Verizon has teamed up with Microsoft to enable the simple and quick creation and deployment of complete end-to-end IoT products and services.
 
Verizon’s ThingSpace IoT platform and 5G and LTE network connectivity have been integrated with Microsoft Azure IoT Central to accelerate time to market and save costs for IoT deployments.
 
“This is about simplifying IoT development,” said Aamir Hussain, Verizon Business’ senior vice president. “By integrating the Verizon and Microsoft platforms, we are enabling IoT builders to more easily get their solutions to market and, ultimately, into the hands of users. It’s about moving the IoT industry forward and making it easier for businesses and consumers to benefit from IoT innovation.”
 
Cognizant is the first company to leverage the combined platform to develop its own IoT-enabled application on cold chain to support pharmaceutical and food-and-beverage industries that have been impacted by the pandemic.
 
Verizon Business plans to simplify and accelerate end-to-end IoT creation by providing all the critical components in the IoT value chain available to customers, such as connected devices, network capability, cloud hosting and artificial intelligence. The ThingSpace IoT platform – including secure connectivity to Verizon’s 5G and LTE network and full management and diagnostics capabilities – and CAS critical asset sensor devices have been integrated with Microsoft Azure to enable IoT builders to create new IoT applications quickly and efficiently.
 
Microsoft Azure IoT Central provides application-level, cloud-based analytics, as well as pre-built templates for various industry use cases. By integrating Verizon’s ThingSpace platform and Azure infrastructure, IoT system builders, integrators and service providers are able to develop, deploy and operationalise quickly complete IoT services.
 
“Microsoft has been on a mission to simplify IoT by introducing Azure IoT Central, IoT Plug and Play and other Azure solutions,” said Tony Shakib, GM of IoT business acceleration at Microsoft. “The integration with Verizon makes it easier to build cellular IoT by leveraging Verizon’s network and ThingSpace platform.”
 
One of the first large enterprise builders, Cognizant, is an early adopter of the integrated platform, using it to develop an IoT application for the management and use of cold storage, which supports vital business operations for perishables, including storage and shipping of food and pharmaceuticals.
 
For example, the application monitors prescription drugs while in storage to ensure they are in optimal condition, safeguarding the quality of the pharmaceuticals that are distributed to customers and reducing the amount of perished inventory. Cognizant gives pharmaceutical retailers more visibility of inventory throughout the transit pipeline.
 
“The global pandemic has disrupted nearly every supply chain,” said Frank Antonysamy, global head of Cognizant’s IoT business. “Connected IoT is more essential than ever to protect all of us. Every temperature-sensitive product can now be monitored to ensure product integrity from shipping through to the consumer. Working with Verizon and Microsoft on the ThingSpace platform enables us to deploy new technologies to help ensure that the food we eat and medicines we take are safe.”