The new IoT offering includes a connected car dongle, a 4G security camera, a pet location and activity tracker and a bag location tracker
Vodafone has launched a new system targeting the internet of things (IoT) consumer market.The system, dubbed “V by Vodafone” will enable consumers to connect millions of home and leisure electronics products to Vodafone’s dedicated global IoT network, the U.K.-based telco said.
Vodafone said that its mobile IoT networks currently have 59 million connected devices.
“V by Vodafone” comprises a SIM card which will be included in all IoT-enabled consumer electronics products sold by Vodafone from today. The company said the SIM will be also offered by third-party retailers next year and the “V by Vodafone” smartphone app, which provides customers with a single overview of all IoT-enabled products registered to their account.
The new offering also provides automatic connection to Vodafone’s IoT networks in 32 countries. During 2018, Vodafone said it will launch a new online product marketplace open to IoT developers.
“The internet of things is already beginning to transform how businesses operate. Over the next decade, the expansion of IoT into consumer markets will bring about an equally dramatic shift in how people manage their daily lives, at home and in their leisure time,” Vodafone Group’s CEO, Vittorio Colao, said.
The “V by Vodafone” concept and product range were developed with insights from comprehensive research involving more than 15,000 consumers in Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.
The group has initially launched a number of IoT-based products, which will be available for purchase by current Vodafone mobile customers in selected Vodafone stores in Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K
V-Auto by Vodafone is a “plug and drive” dongle can be added to most vehicles on European roads manufactured since 2002. The “V-Auto by Vodafone” dongle is fitted to the car in seconds by the customer and is fully configured within minutes. Once connected, “V-Auto by Vodafone” adds the following capabilities to any compatible vehicle:
- Auto SOS: the car owner will be contacted and offered support in the event of an accident in their home country. An automated call will be made to the emergency services if there is no response.
- Find My Car: enabling the car owner to track the whereabouts of their vehicle.
- Safety Score: providing driving performance statistics on every journey.
The new offering also includes the V-Camera by Vodafone, which is a high-definition mobile security camera that automatically connects to Vodafone’s IoT network. This enables customers to set up continuous remote video monitoring of any location where there is 3G or 4G coverage.
V-Pet by Vodafone is a location and activity tracker for dogs and cats. Owners can track their pets using a combination of GPS and the mobile network and get smartphone alerts if their pet strays from a designated area.
V-Bag by Vodafone is an advanced briefcase, handbag and schoolbag tracker that helps customers reduce the risk of theft or loss. Through this device, customers can set up a smartphone alert to notify them if a bag leaves a designated area.