GE Launches Standalone IIoT Company, Qualcomm Unveils Power‑Saving IoT Modem

GE is creating a standalone company dedicated to expanding its Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) software suite. The new entity will consolidate GE Digital’s key offerings—Predix, Asset Performance Management, Historian, Automation (HMI/SCADA), Manufacturing Execution Systems, Operations Performance Management, and the Power Digital & Grid Software Solutions businesses—into a single, focused platform.

In related moves, GE sold its ServiceMax field‑service management portfolio to private‑equity firm Silver Lake and announced that former GE Digital CEO Bill Ruh has left the company to pursue other opportunities. GE is launching an internal and external search to appoint a new CEO for the IIoT venture.

Qualcomm to Launch IoT Modem

Qualcomm Technologies is set to release the 9205 LTE modem, specifically engineered for IoT devices such as asset trackers, health monitors, security systems, smart‑city sensors, smart meters, and wearables. The modem supports global multimode LTE Category M1 (eMTC) and NB‑IoT, delivers up to 70% lower power consumption in idle mode, is 50% smaller, and offers a more cost‑effective solution than its predecessor. Availability is expected in early 2019.

Digital Twin Moving Beyond Plant Floor

The adoption of digital‑twin technology is expanding beyond manufacturing floors to include back‑office operations. Mike Harmon, director of engineering service practice for the Americas at Information Services Group, told CIO Dive that he recently helped a blood‑transport company create digital twins to capture data on pallet composition, temperature, pressure, humidity, and other variables previously unmonitored.

IoT Startups Shift Focus

Stacey Higginbotham notes that the IoT startup landscape is evolving: fewer firms are raising capital, but the funds they secure are larger. Many are tailoring their products to specific industries or delivering point‑solution offerings rather than broad, general‑purpose platforms.

IoT Bees?

University of Washington researchers have developed a “living Internet of Things platform” by equipping bumblebees with a miniature computing package that includes a rechargeable lithium‑ion battery, MCU, antenna, and sensors for humidity, temperature, and light intensity—sampling every four seconds. According to IEEE Spectrum, potential applications include precision irrigation and real‑time monitoring of optimal growing conditions for crops.