Depending whose account of events you believe, the wrist watch was invented anywhere between 1810 and 1868, and since that time it has continued to evolve by adding new functionalities throughout the decades. With information and communications technologies impacting virtually everything, it was only a matter of time before watches started integrating some of this technology. Initially tech companies, including smartphone manufacturers, introduced smart watches to the marketplace, but now traditional watchmakers and others are also looking at opportunities to make watches smarter by adding features that don’t take away from the aesthetics of the watch. Limmex, a Swiss provider of personal safety solutions, announced it has selected Gemalto to enable M2M connectivity for its emergency watch, a traditional looking watch with new age technology.
The Limmex looks like a regular watch, except it can be triggered to set up an emergency alarm chain at a push of a button. When activated, the receiver of the emergency call gets an SMS with GPS localization displaying a link to a map with the latest position of the watch. The GPS service uses satellite and GSM localization to ensure network access at all times. When the wearer triggers the alarm, they can communicate with the defined emergency contact using the built-in microphone and loudspeaker.
The company chose Gemalto to enable the M2M connectivity for a pilot project it has entered with mobile operator Swisscom. Under this arrangement, Gemalto will provide its Cinterion MIM (Machine Identification Module) and LinqUs On-Demand Provisioning Service so Limmex can launch its product design across many different markets without having to worry about compatibility issues with communication networks.
“We work with multiple operators, producing different product variants for each country and region we serve,” said Dr. Martin Reber, CEO for Limmex. “With Gemalto's solution, we can enjoy more efficient manufacturing, a streamlined supply chain, and the freedom to quickly and easily market our product worldwide.”
The MIMs platform secures the identity of machines communicating on carrier networks and provide security authentication and ciphering information. The modules are M2M optimized to:
- Survive extremes of vibration, temperature, and humidity
- Endure a long life span (ex: 10 years)
- Occupy a small footprint (miniaturization)
- Withstand and integrate into industrial manufacturing processes
- Industrial grade - industrial qualification (JEDEC)
- Ideal for replacement of classic SIM in existing modems
“The compact form factor of the Gemalto MIM is ideal for space-constrained M2M applications and the consumer electronics sector,” said Benoit Jouffrey, Vice President On-Demand Connectivity for Gemalto. “Our flexible subscription management solution can be tailored to meet any customer's specific deployment needs, and is particularly well suited to the truly global, highly mobile Limmex product.”
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
