Posted on

Updating Multiple User Names & Device Information in OSCAR Is Now Even Easier

We received a lot of feedback asking for the ability to update the User Name and Device fields for multiple SIMs at once in the OSCAR Portal. Recently we added this capability in the SIM card page of OSCAR. If you select multiple SIMs (checkbox to the right of the SIM card number) then scroll down to the bottom of the page, there are 2 new bulk operations, “Set User Name” & “Set Device Type” available.

Most clients use User Name to identify the location or end customer name for the SIM, and updating this field makes it much easier to sort and filter your SIM cards by this value.

Posted on

Data Pooling Now Available – Customized to Your Unique Needs.

You asked, we listened! We are very excited to announce data pooling plans are now available for M2M/IoT accounts. These plans will allow you to share your data across all of your SIMs so the SIMs that consume more data can be offset with those which don’t use as much – this cuts down on potentially paying for data that you aren’t using.

If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to your account representative, or sales@onesimcard.com.

Posted on

What is an IoT SIM card?

It may sound very futuristic, but we are being monitored by a wide range of technologies controlled by the IoT SIM card. Yes, this may sound strange or scary to you because IoT refers to a future where every device, from ice-cream makers to car computers are connected via the internet. We are quickly approaching a time when IoT incorporates your whole home, office, manufacturing plants, farms & virtually every aspect of life.

What is IoT?

Today, the world revolves around a network of connected things. IoT is entrenching itself more and more into our life, and we are continually being monitored a number of technologies that are run by IoT SIM cards. By allowing the devices to connect and communicate, we can automate processes that would previously require human intervention. We recently wrote about AGTECH and how the farming industry is changing and relying on IoT devices to reduce cost and labor.

 What is an IoT SIM card?

SIM is and acronym for Subscriber Identity Module. An IoT SIM card is designed to store the user’s information and provides the information necessary to access & connect devices to cellular networks. The rapid development, deployment and requirements of IoT devices, are bolstering the improvement of the IoT SIM Cards. IoT devices must work with machines with little or no human interaction. Unlike SIM cards which you may find in your smartphone, IoT device deployments often incorporate thousands or even millions of devices, and they need stable, flexible, & secure networks to which they can reliably connect, especially in harsh environments. IoT SIM Cards are designed with these requirements, which are not only beneficial, but necessary for commercial use.

IoT SIM cards, also known as M2M SIM cards, give the connectivity and robustness required to automate processes. In any business organization, when we need to connect two devices to communicate, they must use a data connection to start communication. In some cases, it wouldn’t be wise to use a standard cellular mobile SIM, to form a relationship in two devices, as the consumer-grade SIM cards aren’t designed with this use case in mind. It’s a risk to use Regular SIM card connections in an IoT application. IoT SIM cards provide critical functionalities including security measures. We have compiled up a list of Functionalities that IoT SIM cards give you. IoT SIM cards are beneficial for businesses.

Global IoT SIM Cards vs. Native IoT SIM Cards

 Global IoT SIM Card

Global IoT SIM cards, also called Roaming SIM cards, include eUICC capabilities. With a Global IoT SIM card, you can access a cell network, and in many cases multiple networks, built for M2M data that works worldwide with a simple activation, a single APN, transparent pricing, and developer-friendly tools. Global IoT SIM cards are also “no steering” cards. No steering cards do not put a preference to any particular network in a given country; they allow the device to decide with which network to connect.

Native IoT SIM cards

Native SIM IoT SIM cards are those provided directly from the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in a given country. While they can potentially roam in other countries (depending on their roaming agreements), the MNO will likely limit the amount of time the card can roam, or restrict the percentage of cards on your account that can operate out of the home network. Native IoT SIM cards also steer your traffic to their network because the MNO only wants the SIM to operate on their network. If these SIMs roam, there is a financial impact to the MNO. In most cases the native SIM provider will not “charge” you for roaming, and that is why the MNO limits the amount of roaming allowed. Steering your traffic can cause serious problems because the MNO of the native IoT SIM will force your device to use their network, even in very poor coverage areas, and they only allow roaming when the coverage goes down to zero. This causes delays in connecting, speed degradation, and potential loss or corruption of data.

IoT for Businesses

Maximize Productivity

IoT allows the businesses to automate processes and build-in more efficiencies. For example, Fintech IoT utilize computing devices which are many times faster and are more accurate in providing the correct results rather than humans. There are very few human errors found when using IoT in your business. In case the IoT device goes wrong at some point, the machine can quickly inform the engineer. This way, you can easily identify where the problem occurred.  IoT is a time saver.

Expanding Uptime

Businesses can also increase their uptime. Working in remote areas with multi-network IoT SIM cards can maximize uptime. Using Global IoT SIM no steering cards with multi-network capabilities devices or machines can limit the chance of losing connectivity. The no steering roaming capacities of a Global IoT SIM card enables multi-network connectivity and, therefore provides redundancy. If the primary network isn’t available, the device will automatically connect to another available network. Global IoT SIM Cards minimize the risk of losing the signal. That is why Global IoT SIM Cards are found to be useful for businesses using remote devices and tracking.

Interested in learning more? Please reach out to our experts anytime to discuss your IoT project. Contact our team at sales@OneSimCard.com to have a no-obligation conversation about your requirements, and we can mutually determine if there is an opportunity to partner.

Posted on

When Is the Optimal Time to Engage with, and Decide on, a SIM Connectivity Provider for Your IoT Project?

When starting a new IoT project, there are many pieces of the puzzle to put together. You want to ensure on-time delivery of the project and you need to make sure that all of the bugs have been worked out during the testing project. Many IoT projects fail to deliver on-time because they put off testing with their chosen IoT SIM card providers until the very end. This causes loss of revenue, an unhappy end customer because the delivery time is not delivered on time (which can cause penalties or loss of confidence and the end-customer decides to cancel their order and choose another solution), and bad reviews for your company.

The most successful project engages with, and choose, an IoT SIM card provider in the initial stages of project design. There are many factors that go into the decision process for a SIM card provider. Some of the factors include:

  • Coverage – Does your provider have a robust network to ensure the IoT SIM card will work where you need it to work? Are your needs in one country or are you looking to deploy your IoT SIM cards international? Whether it is Domestic or International deployment, is the provider able to provide coverage on multiple networks (for redundancy) without “Steering” your traffic. Can they provide this service using a single APN & with a single management portal?

  • Functionality – Does your IoT SIM card provider offer all of the functionality you require? Typical functionality can include:

    • Portal for SIM Management – It is critical that you have access to maintain your fleet of SIMs. The IoT SIM card management portal is used to

        •  activate & deactivate SIMs;

        • analyze data consumption;

        • gain an understanding of where data is being consumed;

        • put limits on usage;

        • provide access for multiple users & profiles allowing access to specific functionality and/or specific SIM cards – even provide access to the end customer in cases of B2B2X scenarios;

        • Send SMS through the portal;

      • Batch operations;

      • Etc.

    • Dynamic and Static IP Addresses – Most IoT SIM card providers default to Dynamic IP addresses. If you require Static IP’s, do you need Public or Private Static IP addresses? The more secure option is Private IP addresses. Private static IP’s require that the device communicating with the SIM card be on the same IP range – this is commonly called Peer-to-Peer connectivity. Public static IP’s can be addressed from any device on the Internet which is why Public Static IP’s offer no security.

    •  VPN Service – Open VPN or IPSec? Open VPN is typically a less expensive solution but it limits tunnel to one user concurrently per VPN. This can be a user’s PC or Laptop, or a server where multiple users can access from within you LAN, but only one at a time. IPSec VPN tends to be a more expensive solution and allows multiple concurrent users and is chosen when a team needs access. Both Open and IPSec require Static IP’s for the IoT SIMs.

    • Private APN – APN’s (Access Point Name) are required on all SIM cards because it provides a point of entry into the IP network. Typically IoT SIM card providers give all of their customers a shared APN. Private APN’s are given to clients because they want simple and secure access to all of their devices. Clients sometimes use multiple APNs because they want one APN to provide service with different security levels. For example, one APN can be used to connect to the public internet while the second APN can be used to transmit sensitive data (like credit card transactions) via VPN using a private network.

    • IMEI Lock – The IMEI lock ensures the SIM will only be used and a particular device. Without the Lock, it is possible to remove the SIM and insert into another device (like a phone or tablet) and run up data consumption.

    • Whitelist IP’s and/or URLs – Sometimes there is a requirement to provide data connectivity access to and from a handful of addresses and not allow any access outside of this narrow list.

    • Limit Data or Money Usage – Limiting usage on IoT SIM cards is extremely important when in testing & in production. You want to limit your financial impact when there is a device that “goes rogue” and starts using an inordinate amount of data This is particularity important when in the testing phase because the chances that there is a bug in the device is much higher – that’s why you test. This can happen in production as well, so you want to look into these limits. In pooled data plans limits should be put into place for how much data is allowed in a given time period. In prepaid plans, there needs to be a limit for how much money an IoT SIM card can spend in a given time period?

    • Voice, SMS and Data – What are the requirements for your project? Are you just looking for Data access or do need access to voice and/or SMS also? Voice is typically used in wearable device projects such as child or elderly care (think about trackers with a “panic button” for dialing caregivers). It can also be important in the medical tech industry as well for tele-medicine as an example. SMS is typically used to send commands to the remote device and receive confirmations of those commands back from the remote device. There are many other uses for SMS, but sending commands to the IoT SIM card is by far the most popular use case.

    • Multi-IMSI Support – Multi-IMSI support allows the IoT SIM card to change which HLR (Home Locator Register) to use. The ability to allow changing IMSI’s is important to provide the best network access. The device in the field will need to have a SIM toolkit in order to enable OTA (over the air) IMSI changes. Multi-IMSI support provides peace of mind that if the current HLR doesn’t allow International Roaming for that country, that another HLR can be written to the card.

    • No “Steering” – Network Steering is the method providers utilize to keep your traffic on a particular mobile network. Providers do this to ensure your traffic stays on the least expensive network for the provider. Domestic (often referred to as Native) SIM cards typically steer traffic to their network first and keep the connection on their network until there is no signal before allowing the IoT SIM card to roam onto another network. This may make sense for the provider, but it does the customer a disservice by causing connectivity issues (the connection may bounce between networks) and connection speed problems. Steering isn’t limited to Native carriers. International IoT Sim card providers may also Steer traffic when roaming to ensure the least expensive network is connected. Look for a provider that does NOT steer traffic.

    • API functionality – Do you want the ability to access the IoT SIM card provider’s portal using API’s? Is the provider able to add API’s specific to your specific needs quickly? Many customers need to perform IoT SIM management through their portals instead of through the SIM card provider’s portal. An example of this might be a scenario where you are providing a GPS solution. You have all of your IoT SIM cards installed in your inventory of devices, but the SIM card is not activated. When you sell a GPS device to your customer, they will activate that service through your portal. Your portal is connected to your IoT connectivity provider via API and send a command to the provider’s portal to activate data service on the installed SIM card. API integration is a “must have” for many IoT projects, especially in larger deployments or when there is a high number of small transactions required.

  • Flexibility – Does the provider partner with you and listen to your particular requirements. Is the IoT SIM card provider able to design a solution that is custom to your project’s needs or are they requiring you to design your needs to fit their “cookie cutter” solution? While some projects are fairly straightforward, most IoT projects are better served by custom plans for that particular need.

  • Form Factor – What type of IoT SIM card do you need? Are you designing for an embedded SIM (Mff2) or a tradition SIM (2FF, 3FF or 4FF)? More and more projects are moving to embedded SIMs but adoption still lags behind industry predictions. Embedded SIMs provide more flexibility and allow devices to become smaller because of the amount of real estate that traditional SIMs require. Also, is there a need for industrial SIMs which have a higher tolerance to temperature (high and low) fluctuations.

  • Customer Support – If you contact your IoT SIM card provider, do they answer your call and reply to your emails? If there is a problem with connectivity, will they help troubleshoot? Is there a team assigned to your account to ensure success? Are they willing to roll up their sleeves and help you with design?

  • Cost – There is a reason this is the last consideration when choosing an IoT SIM card partner. If your project’s requirements from the above are not met, then cost doesn’t matter; even a no cost solution that doesn’t meet your needs costs too much. Too often, cost is too heavily weighted without understanding how the above criteria are satisfied. It’s not to say that cost is unimportant but if you choose the least expensive solution and you spend a lot of development cycles trying to make it work you will end up spending more money on something that ends up not working.

To summarize, you want to partner with an IoT SIM card provider very early in your design process. You need to understand your particular needs and ensure that the chosen SIM card connectivity provider has the experience with similar projects and can meet YOUR particular requirements.

OneSimCard IoT has a team of IoT connectivity experts who are always curious about, and willing to engage with your particular project. We design our global IoT SIM card solutions to your needs and never try to put a square peg in a round hole because we understand every project is different. If you are looking for a connectivity solution, please contact sales@onesimcard.com for a no obligation consultation.

Posted on

OneSimCard IoT Service in USA Combines the 2 Largest Networks, AT&T and Verizon, to provide the Best Overall Coverage

OneSimCard IoT features Multi-network Coverage (Redundancy) in many countries.

Combining AT&T and Verizon on a Single SIM Ensures the Greatest Coverage & Unsurpassed Redundancy in the USA

Earlier this year, OneSimCard IoT, a Global leader in IoT connectivity, announced the launch of a new SIM card connectivity solution for the United States market which combines both AT&T and Verizon LTE, Cat M & Cat M1 data and SMS access on a single SIM card solution. This solution gives customers, who have connectivity requirements in the USA, full redundancy on the country’s 2 largest networks.

Having this access on a single SIM is critical because there is no need for a dual SIM device or guessing which SIM is best for a particular area. OneSimCard also doesn’t “steer” traffic to a particular network. When the no steering SIM card is inserted and activated, the customer device is allowed to determine the best network to use at that time and location. Because this single SIM card solution includes AT&T and Verizon, the coverage options are tremendously expanded. Customers interviewed who moved their service to OneSimCard IoT’s service in the USA are calling this “a game-changer” and “incredible for my business” when comparing to their previous service.

This OneSimCard IoT Sim card connectivity solution also offers data and SMS service in over 160 countries worldwide with many countries offering redundant networks. This global SIM operates on a single APN and on OneSimCard IoT’s OSCAR SIM Management platform, making multi-country deployments simple.

OneSimCard IoT (iot.onesimcard.com), a division of Belmont Telecom, Inc., is a leading provider of cellular data, SMS and voice SIM card services for international IoT SIM card deployments & offers extremely competitive, data, SMS and voice services worldwide. With over 25 years of experience, OneSimCard M2M / IoT works with both Public and Private Sector organizations and offers a flexible option for IoT connectivity projects. OneSimCard M2M / IoT has been widely acclaimed by IoT industry experts, including CIO Magazine.

Posted on

The Growth, Benefits, and Future of IoT in AGTECH (Agriculture Tech)

Agriculture Technology

Agricultural Technology has become the most revolutionary and impactful area of modern technology, because of the fundamental need to produce enough nutritional food to nourish a growing global population. With advancements in technology and IoT, modern farms and agricultural operations work incredibility different from past practices. Sensor devices, automated machines, and information technology have taken over the agriculture sector.  

The global population will reach over 10 billion by 2050. To fulfill the need of 10 billion people, we need to work hard and smart. We need to double the amount of food we now produce. The latest Agriculture Technology covers almost every aspect from powered machinery (formerly performed by people and animals), to enhanced seed production and planting techniques to agrochemicals, which supports crop growth and protects the plants from destructive weeds and insects.

Today’s agriculture regularly uses different technologies, like robots, moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. With the evolution of Technology and robotic devices, the agriculture industry is becoming more user friendly. Agriculture technology and its robotic systems allow many businesses to increase profits, become efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. This advancement in Technology, which connects agriculture with Technology, increases productivity, and reduces human workload.

Climate change is a big challenge. With the development of Technology and to save our natural resources, Agriculture Tech adoption is essential. AGTECH allows farmers to better utilize resources like water and nutrients effectively. Another primary purpose is the enrichment of soil through precision agronomic systems and enhanced seeds, which will produce crops that will be beneficial for human health as well as for the animal husbandry. This will increase the output of meat and produce higher quality products full of proteins like milk and eggs. In short, Agriculture Tech is the new game-changer for the production of more food with less natural resources.  

Use of Technology in Agriculture

There are many usages of Technology in Agriculture. Below we have mentioned some uses of Technology in agriculture.

  • Farm machines

Farm machines lower the cost of labor, harvest in time, plant early, and makes certain that the yield is stored within the right time frame. The use of Technology in agriculture makes sure that the food is grown, harvested and stored within the shortest time possible.  

  • GPS tracking for machines

GPS technology also plays an essential role in the development of autopilot sprayers, & tractors that do not require any driver. Trackers are enabled with the help of IoT Sim Cards. GPS trackers and tracking systems eliminate human errors and save fuel and equipment. Security of the tracking devices can be accomplished with Private IP addresses, coupled with VPN and even private APNs.

  • Crop sensors

What quantities to give to the plant, what fertilizers work best for different plants, when to apply. These are significant challenges faced in agriculture. Crops sensors make it easier for the farmers to adequately supply the fertilizers and pesticides the crops need in the correct quantity. Such technologies give you an overview and sense of how your plants are feeling.  

  • Use of GPS in field documentation

With the help of GPS, it is becoming easier to determine and document the yields from a given farm and record the application rates. The use of GPS is done with the help of an IoT sim card. 

  • Biotechnology

Genetic engineering and the process of improving the health of the of the given crop at the genetic level continues to evolve. Biotechnology, referred to as genetic engineering, is carried out to increase the resistance to drought, pests and disease of crops worldwide. In short, with biotechnology, farmers can get the idea of whether or not they can plant on areas that were considered dry or deserts. They can also use less pesticides which saves money and is better for the environment. To achieve the goals, farmers must understand the concept of modern farming and the use of Agriculture technology. 

Agriculture Technology and Growth

In this tech era, where the Internet is becoming more and more ubiquitous, the Internet of Things (IoT) has disrupted many industries and the Agriculture Industry in the same regard. 

IoT technology has brought significant change with smart wearable’s, connected devices, automated machines, driverless cars, and much more. Some recent statistics revealed that the global population would reach over 10 billion by 2050. The agriculture industry needs to ramp up production to feed this massive population. In this case, the best way to fulfill this gap between the food and people is the adoption of IoT internet of things. To deal with climate changes, IoT is eradicating and helping us achieve the demand for more food. Amongst the toughest challenges – weather conditions and environmental impact, IoT must be adopted.

 IoT is enabling agriculture to increase agricultural production at a low cost. In the next few years, smart solutions powdered by IoT will improve the agriculture operations. Some recent reports have stated that the IoT device installation will realize a compound annual growth rate of 20% in the agriculture industry. And the number of connected devices (agricultural) will grow from 13 million in 2014 to 225 million by 2024. However, in the less developed regions, the IoT implementations will be a challenging task. Still, OneSimCard M2M for IoT is making it possible to introduce connectivity and using their global cellular networks.

 

Benefits of Agricultural Technology

Agricultural technology remains a great player in generating revenue and the source of food for people across the globe. In recent years, this sector has faced many changes, adopted many technologies in agriculture, and used different farming approaches.

Below are some of the benefits of Agriculture technologies. This is a glimpse of the importance of modern technology adoption in agriculture.  

  • Modern Technology and Tech machines can reduce the efforts of farmers
  • Less production time
  • Higher productivity of crops
  • Technology is used to supply water to the crops
  • Connected machines can easily sow the seeds without workforce
  • Chemical pest control
  • Less use of water can improve the fertility of the soil
  • Lower prices, along with significant efficiencies
  • Reduce the impact on the environment
  • Ecological impact
  • Safer foods with safer growing conditions 

Future of IoT in AGTECH

Robotic technologies and remote devices enable more reliable monitoring and management of resources. These technologies rely on using data connectivity. Remote devices consist of embedded SIM cards (eSIM) or traditional plastic SIM cards for IoT/M2M communication. Aside from robotic and remote technologies, management of natural resources plays a big part in saving natural resources such as air and better water quality. There are many growth issues in agriculture technology that are interconnected with security measures. These remote technologies give the farmers better control over plant and animal production, processing, distribution, and storage. 

AGtech Services and OneSimCard M2M and its roaming services are expanding to the Global level to meet people’s demands and deliver sensitive information about device activities or data sharing activities over networks. OneSimCard IoT has a wide portfolio of solutions to ensure reliable, and secure connectivity across the worldwide.  

Agricultural technologies continue to morph, expand and adopt new technology eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) Is the next game-changer. Along with eUICC, ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier) is used in the development of Agriculture technology. With the help of IoT technologies, farmers can now quickly determine what is best for their crops, assess the condition of their plants, better understand impending weather interactions and impacts, and produce a right product at a fast pace. To say that IoT is making strides for the farmers to reach the highest of success is an understatement. One day if might be possible, with a single press of a button, to automate the entire farming process.

Share this article with your friends and family, let them know about the next revolution in the AGTECH.

For a quick start with OneSimCard IoT , check out the IoT SIM Starter Kit.

To a receive a free no-obligation quote for your application click here, or contact us directly via email sales@onesimcard.com or phone +1 617-313-8888.

Posted on

Security Risks in Fintech

Fintech: A buzzing Technology

Fintech, Financial Technology, is a booming trend for finance vertical businesses and relational services. Fintech plays an important role in many aspects that affects customers and businesses for ease in interacting with each other through internet connectivity.

There are many application platforms targeting various services in different industries. To become a winning service, these applications must be focused on three simple principles: Design, Speed and Simplicity. Fintech stakeholders are the companies or startups involved in technical innovations. The emerging directions in Fintech are categorized as follows: Payments, Advisory Services, Financing, & Compliance. Among these categories, Advisory services and Compliance are interrelated to Internet of Things, Connected Devices, Wearables, Drone Technology, Mobile Devices, AI, Machine Learning and other emerging components. Payments and Financial are connected to data transfer, Mobile communications, user experiences, data analytics, on-time communications. In these areas, Fintech adds value to the stakeholders involved.

Fintech: A secured Platform?

Remote devices are required to be monitored and controlled centrally using data connectivity. These remote devices consist of integrated built-in SIM cards or traditional plastic SIM cards for IoT/M2M communication. Platforms always try to provide the security for products under financial services, but in this emerging technology, there are some loopholes where additional security measures are required. While in an open network communication, there are some potential data breaches too. Some issues must be taken care of by the remote devices. Fintech platforms may face some challenges related to security and privacy because Fintech services are involved in sensitive information about device activities or data sharing activities over networks. With the increase in demographic and social changes, the adoption of mobile devices is exploding and populating the same mobile networks. Urbanization is resulting with the growth in the sharing economy and personalized services.

Working in any ecosystem with mobile devices & wireless networks data, ubiquity and data security become major challenges for Financial Technology. As onboarding of devices increases, the enterprises are getting exponentially more data for further data processing like analytics or generating insights. Based on this explosion of information, some important & critical information is also shared. Thus, better measures are required to be taken for secure data transfer.

The end devices are designed and equipped by third party enterprises and standards are set using open source or third-party API’s. Here, the data sharing must take place in a seamless manner with the partnerships between institutions and stakeholders. The devices are required to be developed with standardization finalized by the consortiums/organizations/forums.

With the gradual increase in population of devices, data of devices are also obtained but the maintenance of data ownership must be established through legal and technical measures. When the number of devices is increased in a single network, then the difficulties in managing the digital identities of devices for the user or owner might create a challenge to control devices. On-boarding process with security plays an important role for digital identity. Taking an example for mobile services one-time passwords play an important role to secure the owned data in financial services.

Cross platform malware contamination is an imminent threat with the increased integration of devices in ecosystems for any services including financial, advisory or compliance.  For such threats, it is important to implement security architecture with the latest technological implementations.

Security Solutions by OneSimCard IoT

In the era of IoT devices, security protocols can not only be limited to the software level but also must be extended to the firmware level to further mitigate the threats in the connected world. Wearables or mobile devices are developed using SIM cards. Instead of using normal SIM cards in these devices, eUICC or M2M IoT SIM cards are used. These IoT SIM cards are developed with multiple features like international coverage, remote access with the devices enabling troubleshooting. SIM cards can be enabled with Private APN’s and VPN security measures which create private networks without touching the public internet, thus reducing the likelihood of hacking.

Many IoT devices can be managed and controlled using these Enterprise-grade measures which also enables peer-to-peer communication, helping to communicate directly without trafficking in cloud or server. The use of M2M IoT sim cards could be beneficial with regard to costs too. Infrastructure cost at user end might get reduced.

Fintech provides ease in services but some gaps in the technology evolution might create breaches of data or cross platform connectivity. The most important thing  for interoperability is the use of API’s which are developed for communicating with enterprise solutions from anywhere in the world. These API’s are sometimes used from open source or are enabled by third-party developers. There are also some third-party security risks in the fintech systems. Thus, to provide the efficient connectivity between devices as well as users, IoT SIM cards are recommended. The SIM card in any mobile device is also responsible for the data security and identity ownership.

Devices are becoming ever-more inter-connected between different industries, continuously evolving and leveraging the increasing computing power available to devices. Security models which are implemented in IoT Sim Cards with security measures preprogrammed help in minimizing the cyber threats or malfunctioning of IoT devices, but security and data privacy are going to play a key role in winning consumer confidence and catalyzing the explosive adoption of Fintech.

To a receive a free no-obligation quote for your application click here,  or contact us directly via email sales@onesimcard.com or phone +1 617-313-8888.

 

Posted on

SIM Card Evolution for IoT Connectivity

Sim card sizes

For more than 2 decades, mobile devices have been evolving technology around the world. Technology evolution has consistently grown from single profile (IMSI) sim cards to multi-IMSI sim cards. With this emergence, the footprint of the hardware has also reduced from 2FF to MFF2.

The figure above demonstrates, at a glance, the SIM card Gen’s for a better understanding of its footprints.

Deploying eUICC Tech: Is it a Boon?

Because we are in an era where “needs” are being transformed, we are at a stage where everyone is connected with more than 10 end devices in day-to-day life. Thus, connectivity plays an important role where more than 20 billion devices are involved in global roaming as well as domestic deployments.

eUICC deploying practices help in easy provisioning and on-boarding new devices into the existing network. These deployments provide cost-effective connectivity including flexibility from the selection of operators to the profiles in mobile devices. These interoperable features enable startups as well as well-established manufacturers to make advancements in IoT deployments in different real-life use cases like manufacturing, roaming, pricing, platform providers, profile swapping, etc.

The eUICC (A.K.A. eSIM) technology is overall more reliable in for MNO’s (Mobile Network Operators) as well as IoT device manufacturers, and a proven evolution for the rising potentials of their products and strengthens the network connectivity.

From the user’s standpoint, eSim cards are longer-lasting as there is no chance of losing a sim card and far fewer chip demolishing faults. It saves time as there is no required visit to the store to buy or portability switching from one MNO to another. The process of portability becomes easier and quicker.

Provisioning: With the usage of eSim cards, the IoT devices come with built-in support of eSim thus IoT platforms enable the remote provisioning support in its network stack and therefore it becomes simpler and quicker for remote provisioning. This feature helps in communicating with the devices from anywhere in the world through simple steps of switching profiles on the mobile devices.

The amount of real estate required of traditional sim cards is now greatly reduced using minute chips embedding into the mobile devices. The complexities in replacing a sim card is also reduced and replaced by switching profiles directly; no hardware replacement is required. Thus, mechanical failures are reduced tremendously.

Because of these benefits, the OEM’s and MNO’s are embracing eSIM functionality and we are seeing a growing list of devices from wearables to meters to GPS devices utilizing eSIM. We expect to see this list only grow in the future.

eSIM technology enables the interoperability with respect to its profile switching feature or remote provisioning. Its remote accessibility to end devices in a secured, widespread network has decreased the number of challenges, but with these evolutions in the technology, some new-age challenges might become the barriers or the breakdown for the technology adoption.

Potential Pitfalls in Next-Gen Evolution

With newly developed SIM Card technology, there are definitely some challenges to overcome.

The IoT ecosystem is rapidly expanding in its quantity of deployments and has many diversified domains. It is overloaded with data which is shared among billions of devices. Device manufacturers must increase the SIM hardware reliability since the minute chip is, for all practical purposes, impossible to remove, while playing a critical role in network connectivity.

Although in theory with eSIM sounds like it would be simple to switch MNO’s as mentioned above, there are a series of steps that are required for this to happen, and some MNO’s are resisting eSIM. As an example of this resistance, there was a widely reported investigation by the Department of Justice in the USA that looked into possible collusion between the 2 largest carriers AT&T and Verizon and their resistance to eSIM tech in the consumer handset space. Therefore, there are complications when it comes to the practical vs. the theoretical benefits of switching providers.

Another impediment to eSIM adoption is the cost and availability of devices using this standard. While the eSIM itself is more reliable than a standard SIM, the cost per SIM is still slightly more expensive than the traditional SIM. In a very cost-conscience environment, this difference may be too severe to justify adoption. The selection of devices available with eSIM is also not as robust as those which rely on traditional SIM form factors. One solution we are seeing some OEMs move forward with is a hybrid IoT device with both traditional SIM and eSIM availability

Finally, Technology Consortiums must standardize the formats and technological implementations for bringing this technology forward and getting IoT OEM’s, and MNO’s on the same page.

OneSimCard M2M works with many leading GPS and Telematics providers all over the world. Our international mobile cellular connectivity solutions enable fleet software and hardware solutions companies quickly scale by providing a single portal, a single APN for all of their devices, and multi-IMSI SIM cards, including eUICC capability, with access to multiple networks in most countries. If you are curious about our solution and would like to learn more, please contact us at sales@onesimcard.com or call us at +1 617-313-8888.

Posted on

Top 5 Trends That Are Set to Revolutionize the Fleet Industry

Fleet tracking connectivity solutions

The fleet industry is currently undergoing significant changes that will change the future of fleet management — creating new ways to maximize efficiency and minimize the costs that are involved in fleet operations.

To keep up with the competition, it is imperative that company-owned fleets run on the latest software and follow the latest trends in the industry. Organizations should also keep an eye out for the upcoming changes and find out ways to better adapt to them.

Here, we will look at the top 5 trends in fleet management to understand what precisely has been driving the fleet management industry.

1. Data Visibility and Management

In the past few years, fleet management has actively used data to understand and scale their operations, & this is something to which companies far and wide have been quickly adapting.

New Fleet Management Software and Hardware companies are being founded every year that offer information-gathering as their core solution. They help the fleet industry verify trends and make data-driven decisions. This streamlined process of data collecting reduced paper-work enables operational team members to easily access and share information among themselves and other internal and/or external stakeholders.

With data at hand, the fleet industry operates much proactively and works effectively towards reducing vehicle downtime and virtually eliminating unexpected issues.

2. The Usage of Telematics and GPS Tracking

Tracking and telematics are two of the primary areas of focus of fleets. The driver’s behavior can be analyzed well with vehicle tracking and telematics, and reading the odometer helps with managing parts inventory and maintenance schedules.

These GPS units can be placed in vehicles (either hard-installed or removable) and transfer data to the head office — all in real-time. This way, fleet managers can make informed decisions to manage drivers and vehicles more efficiently.

GPS tracking and telematics can help with simple things, such as finding out whether your driver is wearing a seatbelt or not, or if there is any unauthorized person inside the vehicle. The whole system becomes much easier to integrate into a fleet’s existing backend dispatch system using APIs. Once the integration takes place, you can get real-time data on location, ETA, and a whole host of information depending on the problem you need to solve.

It also provides accurate, real-time data that can help you prevent truck breakdowns. You can find out the vehicle’s speed, odometer readings, how long the engine has been running, and more. ROI can be easily realized using tracking and telematics systems.

3. Substitution of Vehicles

One of the most expensive elements of the fleet industry is the acquisition of new vehicles. These come up as high one-time costs which must be incurred if the company needs up-to-date performance and metrics from their vehicles.

Truck costs have also gone up in recent years with increasing demand, which has put more focus on an updated fleet that displaces older, outdated vehicles.

4. Managing Maintenance Costs

According to Ernst and Young, the cost of fleet management may account for 30 to 50 percent of the overall cost of fleet ownership.

The challenging aspect here is the cost of incalculable components, along with labor expenses. To tackle this problem, fleet managers need to depend on software, which can help to decrease work pressure.

Some programs can even provide automatic updates around fleet operations and automate the billing process.

5. Fuel Expenses

Another factor that plays a crucial role in fleet management is the cost of fuel. Oil prices have significantly dropped in the past few years, and it has had a positive effect on organizations’ revenue.

Newer vehicles are more dependent on electrical components, which significantly reduces the consumption of oil and the costs related to it. However, at the peak of the driving season, fleet managers must be well aware of how the fuel expenses will be affecting their revenue. Thus, it becomes crucial that the fleet has tools that compute fuel utilization, so there’s a record of everything.

One cannot stray away from the fact that the fleet industry will keep on developing, and so will the competition around it. To stay ahead of the game, it is a must that fleet managers adopt fleet management applications. These applications unlock the potential of the entire fleet management process and immediately deliver results that can improve the company’s efficiency and reduce operational expenses in both the short and long term.

OneSimCard M2M works with many leading GPS and Telematics providers all over the world. Our international mobile cellular connectivity solutions enable fleet software and hardware solutions companies quickly scale by providing a single portal, a single APN for all of their devices, and multi-IMSI SIM cards, including eUICC capability, with access to multiple networks in most countries. If you are curious about our solution and would like to learn more, please contact us at sales@onesimcard.com or call us at +1 617-313-8888.