• Partners with Globecomm for satellite-based IoT
• Targeting businesses assets in remote locations
• Collaboration with Otis Elevator Company on IoT
• Harnessing data from 2m elevators

AT&T has announced a deal with global solutions integrator and data management company Globecomm to launch a new service that allows satellite connectivity to work in conjunction with its cellular network for Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. It says it wants to be able to track assets in remote locations where cellular service may be limited or unavailable. This would allow IoT devices to operate on cellular when a signal is available, and then automatically switch to satellite when cell service is unavailable.

"We're offering a one-stop shop for IoT connectivity," said Mike Troiano VP IoT Solutions at AT&T. "Our customers now have a flexible, reliable and highly secure service to monitor their assets nearly anywhere. They don't have to choose one connectivity solution over the other – they can have the full package."

"Businesses want more real-time visibility into their assets on a global scale," said Jon Kirchner, SVP of Products and Corporate Strategy at Globecomm. "We're working with AT&T to offer near-seamless connectivity over a single platform. We're helping businesses collect and analyse critical information wherever their assets are – to generate operational improvements and hard ROI – on land or at sea."

AT&T also announced a deal with Otis Elevator Company to collaborate on opportunities to enhance connectivity through the use of IoT products for its elevator, escalator and moving walkway equipment.

Otis companies around the world will use AT&T IoT technology to aggregate data from cell networks and connect to a new enhanced cloud environment. AT&T's Global SIM card and IoT Services, such as Control Center, M2X and Flow Designer, will also allow Otis to access real-time equipment performance data. In addition, AT&T will serve as the primary mobility provider for Otis field operations.

"We strongly believe that a new generation of elevators will be defined by new digital tools that better connect our people with our customers - and our customers with their equipment," said Otis President Philippe Delpech. "We will also develop new responsive service solutions that give Otis employees more autonomy and Otis customers more control over their equipment and buildings by leveraging the AT&T IoT technology to harness data generated by the nearly 2 million elevators currently under Otis service contract transporting over 2 billion people per day."

"We're seeing more global businesses use IoT technologies to take their business to the next level,” said Chris Penrose, SVP IoT Solutions, AT&T. “They're extracting actionable information from their machines, equipment, factories, fleet vehicles and more.”