Bsquare has launched a Windows IoT recovery, upgrade and OS imaging product for embedded and purpose-built devices such as point-of-sale kiosks, healthcare devices, digital displays and handheld terminals.
 
In addition to needing software upgrades that happen every two or three years, embedded devices can get corrupted, causing them to go out of service. In either case, this means sending a technician into the field at a cost of about $200 per truck roll. A fleet of 1000 devices can mean an extra cost of $200,000.
 
B2IQ SquareOne for Windows IoT allows recovery of a device’s Windows IoT OS in two ways: from a hidden partition or by USB or other external media. A GUI interface captures an image of a system, including the Windows operating system and any applications, and recovers it by a preferred method, allowing the system to be restored to a working state.
 
“We have a long history of partnering with our customers to design, build and operate smart devices,” said Ralph Derrickson, president and CEO of Washington-based Bsquare. “As these devices become part of complex systems, maintaining and upgrading the software is an even greater challenge. SquareOne lowers the cost of maintaining these devices and helps companies recover gracefully from inevitable software corruption issues. Devices enabled with B2IQ SquareOne for Windows IoT can be restored easily by a non-technical user onsite.”
 
SquareOne’s partition-based recovery configures the target system with an embedded recovery image that the end user can deploy when needed. The application is dormant and is launched only when recovery is necessary. An external media-based version is available for systems that don’t support a hidden partition or for people who want to manage the recovery image separate from the target system. Both are turnkey and require no additional development to implement.
 
SquareOne also offers a Windows-based agent that can receive updated Windows images from Azure Cloud or third-party device management software. The device can be restored to an up-to-date recovery image or upgraded to a new version of Windows IoT. The upgrade process can be triggered remotely or initiated by the end user.
 
Bsquare is a Microsoft Gold engineering and operations partner. With more than 25 years in the IoT and intelligent systems business, it has supported its OEM partners with tools to enhance software and systems on fixed-purpose embedded devices running the Windows IoT family of operating systems.
 
“When customers engage with us on a new design, it typically results in shorter development cycles and reduced time to market, lower overall costs to complete projects, and enhanced product robustness and features,” said Derrickson. “And when they ask for services like easier recovery and upgrade systems for Windows IoT, Bsquare engineers build the software for them if we can’t find it on the market. The evolution of SquareOne is a direct result of listening to our customers and meeting their needs.”
 
B2IQ SquareOne for Windows IoT is available now for embedded devices operating on most Windows embedded operating systems, included Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, and Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate for Embedded Systems. SquareOne is part of Bsquare’s suite of products and services for the IoT, which also includes B2IQ Jumpstart for Windows IoT, an imaging and training product for teams building embedded devices on Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.
 
Bsquare serves a global customer base from offices in Bellevue, Washington, and the UK.