Launch of platform service that links goods and services with IoT

SoftBank Technology Corp. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shinichi Ata, hereinafter "SBT") is launching IoT Core, a platform service based on the concept of "connecting services necessary for IoT utilization" from today. We will start providing Connect (IOTC Connect).

This service enables manufacturers and companies that provide BtoB services to commercialize IoT by seamlessly providing services that integrate IoT and AI (artificial intelligence), including edge computing, and manage things, data, and people necessary for IoT utilization in an integrated manner on Microsoft Azure, a cloud platform provided by Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd..

1. A secure and scalable platform powered by Microsoft Azure
   Cloud and security can be expanded and expanded while balancing scalability, implementation costs, and operability as the number of IoT devices to be managed and the amount of collected data increases. Furthermore, it is possible to develop applications according to each customer's requests and to integrate with various applications on Microsoft Azure.


2. User interface from the perspective of "users" rather than IT personnel
   IoT/AI experts are essential for commercializing IoT. However, these days, IT talent is a seller's market, and many of the IT talent in Japan belong to IT companies, making it difficult for other companies to acquire and retain data scientists and people with experience in IoT/AI development. Therefore, the UI of this service is designed to almost eliminate the need for people with IoT/AI development experience.


3. Integrated management functions required for IoT business
   With a highly scalable cloud platform and user-oriented UI, it is possible to manage device management, data management, and user management in an integrated manner. Furthermore, by seamlessly linking with partner services, we are able to respond to the diverse needs of our customers.

Click here for details: https://www.softbanktech.jco.p/service/list/iot-core-connect/

■ IoT Core Connect functions and screen images
<Function>
Utilizing the IoT service of Microsoft Azure, which has a rich track record of implementation, in addition to the basic functions that provide one-stop management of IoT devices and the management and visualization of collected data, templates for each job such as field service and facility management, and AI. It consists of extensions that work with various services such as , OTA updates, and security.

<Image of device management>
You can easily register your IoT device by simply entering its unique information and pressing the registration button. In the device management list, you can also check the status of the device (starting, stopping, malfunctioning).

<Image of data management>
You can add databases containing information collected from sensors, data for machine learning, etc. to datasets. Various graphs and lists are available as data visualization functions, allowing you to create your own reports without any development, and you can always check the latest status of the created reports with one click.

<Image of user management>
You can properly operate IoT services by registering user accounts and adding them to groups that allow access to the required functions. You can also check the status and operation log in the account management list.

■Utilization image of IoT Core Connect

<Information management for each user through customer company management>

<Improving maintenance work efficiency by linking device management and AI>

In addition, in the future, SBT will widely seek partners who will utilize this service to promote the commercialization of IoT, such as manufacturers and companies providing BtoB services, and work with them to promote an IoT society. We have received support from the following companies to begin providing this service. (Hereafter, in alphabetical order of company names, 15 companies in total)

We have also received supportive comments from the following companies. (Hereafter, in alphabetical order of company names, 13 companies in total)

●Ryota Kanai, Representative Director and President of Araya Co., Ltd.

“Araya Co., Ltd. warmly welcomes the service release of IoT Core Connect.As AI implementation is expanding not only to the cloud but also to the edge side, a system that allows integrated management on a secure and highly scalable platform is necessary. This is essential. We will also work with SoftBank Technology to provide AI algorithms that solve customer issues and deep learning calculation volume reduction technology."

●Aising Co., Ltd. President and Representative Director Junichi Idezawa

“AISing welcomes the newly announced service release of IoT Core Connect. The IoT technology field will be introduced and developed rapidly in the future. We are confident that the ability to create a safe and secure IoT environment easily and at low cost will become the foundation for supporting further technological innovation. AISing provides its own AI solutions in chip/board format on the edge side and in Rest API format on the cloud side, and we are confident that there will be great synergy with SBT 's service. ”

●Kanazawa Engineering Systems Co., Ltd. Technical Manager Hiroyuki Konishi

“Kanazawa Engineering Systems would like to sincerely congratulate you on the service release of IoT Core Connect. In the 30 years since our company was founded, we have expanded our business through the development of embedded and control software. In our business utilizing IoT, we support IoT with a focus on edge computing and IoT gateways, and by collaborating with the services announced this time, both companies will be able to provide IoT services from edge devices to the cloud. can. ”

●Cloudian Co., Ltd. President and Representative Director Hiroshi Ota

“We warmly welcome the launch of IoT Core Connect.The edge-heavy computer “CLOUDIAN AI BOX” that is capable of executing AI inferences provided by our company is linked with Microsoft Azure, so IoT Core Connect customers will It can be used as an edge AI device. We hope that it will be useful in many use cases, such as high-definition video IoT and IoT that requires real-time processing. ”

●Contec Co., Ltd. Managing Executive Officer, Solution Development Department Manager Masakazu Yoshida

"Contec Corporation welcomes the announcement of SoftBank Technology 's new platform service "IoT Core Connect." By combining our edge device CONPROSYS, which comes standard with the software functions necessary for IoT, with IoT Core Connect, the development elements will be significantly reduced, and the customer's initial investment amount will be significantly reduced. We are confident that barriers to entry will be dramatically lowered in a variety of industries, and the scope of IoT utilization will further expand. ”

●Yasutoshi Magara, President and Representative Director Cybertrust Japan Co., Ltd.

“Cybertrust Japan welcomes the announcement of SoftBank Technology Corp. 's platform service “IoT Core Connect.” Cybertrust Japan provides a secure IoT platform that allows service providers using IoT devices to safely update their devices over long periods of time while ensuring security. Cybertrust Japan will continue to collaborate with SoftBank Technology Corp. to achieve secure IoT device connectivity and lifecycle management, and strive to realize a prosperous and safe IoT society. ”

●Thundersoft Japan Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President Masanori Imai

“ThunderSoft warmly welcomes the announcement of SoftBank Technology 's IoT Core Connect. "Thundercomm TurboX SoM," an AI x IoT device development platform provided by ThunderSoft for IoT edge devices whose needs are rapidly increasing, leverages the rich integrated management, data management, user management, and device management functions of IoT Core Connect. In conjunction with this, it is possible to provide excellent end-to-end edge AI solutions. In the future, we will continue to deepen our collaboration with SoftBank Technology in the area of AI x IoT in order to meet the needs of a wide range of customers. ”

●Senseway Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President Yuzo Jimbo

``Senseway welcomes the launch of IoT Core Connect, which uses IoT/AI based on Microsoft Azure, by SoftBank Technology Corp. Senseway provides an IoT communication platform using LPWA's LoRaWAN. By collaborating with SoftBank Technology Corp. Senseway will provide a one-stop service that includes LPWA networks, contributing to the early realization of service releases for domestic manufacturers' IoT products and stable service provision.

●Tokyo Electron Devices Co., Ltd. Executive Officer, President of Cloud IoT Company Yasuo Hatsumi

``Tokyo Electron Devices warmly welcomes the announcement of ``IoT Core Connect,'' which utilizes SoftBank Technology Corp. 's Microsoft Azure. We are developing IoT solutions using Microsoft Azure together with our partners, and we are confident that by working together, we will be able to accelerate the expansion of Azure IoT business and solve the IoT business challenges of more customers. Doing. ”

●Minami Takahashi, Executive Officer, Managing Director, Partner Business Headquarters Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.

"Microsoft Japan warmly welcomes SoftBank Technology Corp. to develop services using IoT/AI based on Microsoft Azure. We are confident that this service, which is realized by SoftBank Technology Corp. 's advanced technical capabilities for Microsoft Azure, will not only solve the management issues faced by companies, but also promote significant business growth. Microsoft Japan will continue to work with SoftBank Technology Corp. to help bring new value to our customers' businesses."

●Mr. Takemasa Sato, Director, Macnica Co., Ltd., President, Kravis Company

“We warmly welcome the launch of IoT Core Connect.In addition to AI (artificial intelligence) related products from NVIDIA Corporation, for which we are a distributor, and the edge-heavy computer “CLOUDIAN AI BOX” from Cloudian Corporation. We will continue to propose AI solutions that work with IoT Core Connect. We look forward to further development of the AI market through collaboration with SoftBank Technology Corp.”

● LeapMind Co., Ltd. President and Representative Director Soichi Matsuda

“LeapMind Inc. warmly welcomes the announcement of SoftBank Technology Corp. 's IoT Core Connect. LeapMind provides an embedded deep learning construction suite "DeLTA-Core" that seamlessly enables a series of flows from designing and building quantized deep learning models to synthesizing the circuits required for hardware implementation. We are confident that by collaborating with ``Core Connect,'' we will realize the world of DoT (Deep Learning of Things), where deep learning technology is applied to everything. ”

● VIA Technologies, Inc. Vice-President of International Marketing Richard Brown

“We warmly welcome SoftBank Technology 's announcement of IoT Core Connect. We are a hardware manufacturer equipped with our own Arm SoC and x86 CPU, and since Cloud is essential in the IoT/AI market, we feel that this announcement will further develop this market. Most of our products are Azure IoT Certified, and we are confident that our solutions, which are based on our extensive knowledge and extensive experience, can provide excellent usability to actual customers. ”

Together with our partners and customers, we will promote the launch and expansion of IoT businesses and contribute to providing added value of IoT to consumers and society as a whole.

• *Microsoft Azure is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States in each country.
• *Other company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of each company.