Japanese IoT connectivity firm Soracom and Sigfox owner UnaBiz have jointly developed and launched an LTE-M-based IoT button that uses eSIM technology and a cloud-native smart connectivity platform.

The configurable button, which the companies will brand and sell independently, is the first commercially available product based on a technology collaboration between the partners, who have previously worked jointly on proprietary hardware and smart connectivity projects for specific customers.

Connected buttons are sometimes described as smart buttons, but what makes the LTE-M IoT button effective is its simplicity. A single click or press sends an event over the built-in LTE-M connection to the Soracom or UnaBiz platform endpoints, where the real intelligence resides.

Users can configure the button to trigger serverless functions on popular cloud services such as AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. After registering the device, a user can simply select a cloud service, apply a piece of code and associate a button click to trigger any logic deployed in the cloud.

Developers looking to understand and apply Soracom or UnaBiz platform capabilities quickly can use the LTE-M button as a standalone device or with sensors and other devices such as a flood sensor or magnet relay for more industrial applications.

Based on the code that users choose to deploy to their cloud of choice, the button can be used for any purpose. With the push of a button, users can order products and services such as ride hailing or meal ordering, start or stop a task as in a home automation context, generate an alert, provide feedback, and more. Industries such as ecommerce, call centres, hospitality, maintenance and transportation can use the button to automate operations, streamline workflows and improve customer service.

“The magic of the LTE-M button is that it’s a very simple device, but its applications are limited only by the user’s imagination,” said Kenta Yasukawa, CTO of Soracom. “Because it includes both connectivity and cloud integration, users can incorporate it into their own IoT use cases immediately on registration. It’s a very effective reference device for getting started in IoT, but it can also serve more sophisticated use cases, like connecting sensors and relays. Adding Soracom’s powerful platform capabilities lets the LTE-M button serve advanced cloud based IoT systems using serverless cloud functions, data lakes, machine learning services and more.”

UnaBiz, which was appointed as the new owner of Sigfox technology in April 2022, has experience in developing custom design and off-the-shelf LPWAN technologies, devices and sensors. With Soracom, UnaBiz is now pursuing LTE-M devices that allow enterprises and developers to integrate with existing business workflows and systems.

“Building on our deep knowledge of Sigfox-based low-power devices design, it was only natural for UnaBiz to partner with Soracom team expertise in LTE-M integrations,” said Alexis Susset, CTO of UnaBiz. “This collaboration has enabled us to jointly deliver a simple, evolutive and elegant IoT button which will last years on a single battery charge and benefit from the growing LTE-M networks coverage.”

Features of the LTE-M button include Soracom’s eSIM technology, a three-colour LED status indicator, FOTA support, replaceable AA batteries, IP54 grade and a recycled plastic casing. The button is pre-configured to send events to the companies’ cloud endpoints.

Customers in the USA, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand will be able to purchase the Soracom LTE-M button from Mouser Electronics, CalChip Connect or Soracom.

Founded in 2015, Soracom serves more than 20,000 start-ups, SMBs, and global enterprises across all industries, from agriculture, energy, construction and transportation to consumer electronics, manufacturing, real estate and healthcare.

UnaBiz is a massive IoT service provider and integrator that specialises in design, manufacturing, connectivity and data platform services across a hybrid of LPWA technologies such as Sigfox 0G, LTE-M, NB-IoT and LoRa. Founded in 2016, the company is headquartered in Singapore, with R&D centres in Taipei and Labège, France, and sales offices in Tokyo, Paris, Madrid and Holland.

• UnaBiz, has partnered with Things Industries, a provider of managed and on-premises LoRaWan servers to provide a better experience for collecting IoT data and device heterogeneous fleet device management. The partnership involves UnaBiz integrating the Things Stack into its middleware platform, UnaConnect, to enhance its capabilities in interfacing with the Things network. This integration will allow users who wants to adopt hybrid options to enjoy secure, reliable and cost-efficient data aggregation service.