Quectel Offers First LTE Cat-M1 Module With Support for ThingSpace Platform

Verizon and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., are accelerating innovation in the Internet of Things (IoT) with the introduction of ThingSpace-ready modules from Quectel using Qualcomm Technologies’ MDM9206 Category M1 (Cat-M1) LTE modem. To further facilitate the creation of IoT solutions using Verizon’s ThingSpace platform on the MDM9206 LTE modem, Verizon is making available a development kit. The modules and development kit are expected to be available in early 2017.

“We’re pleased to work with both Qualcomm Technologies and Verizon to quickly commercialize a ThingSpace-ready LTE Cat-M1 module,” said Patrick Qian, chief executive officer, Quectel. “This work will result in earlier opportunities for product OEMs to take advantage of Verizon’s Cat-M1 network rollout. We see great opportunities for new and creative IoT applications benefiting from the implementation of ThingSpace software and Qualcomm Technologies’ MDM9206 LTE modem technology in Quectel’s BG96 module enabling performance and cost optimized products.”

Quectel's BG96 is a series of LTE Cat M1 and Cat NB1 module offering a maximum data rate of 375kbps downlink and uplink. It features ultra-low power consumption, and provides pin-to-pin compatibility with Quectel's NB-IoT module BC95, UMTS/HSPA module UG95/UG96 and GSM/GPRS module M95.

With cost-effective SMT form factor of 22.5 × 26.5 × 2.3mm and high integration level, BG96 enables integrators and developers to easily design their applications and take advantage from the module’s low power consumption and mechanical intensity. Its advanced LGA package allows fully automated manufacturing for high-volume applications.

Verizon’s ThingSpace client has been pre-integrated and tested on the MDM9206 LTE modem and is designed to allow manufacturers to easily and seamlessly develop, as well as manage IoT devices for quicker time-to-commercialization. Using the integrated application processor in the MDM9206 LTE modem, OEMs can develop cost-effective and small-footprint devices and incorporate the benefits of LTE connectivity into many new IoT applications.

In addition, Verizon’s pre-integrated ThingSpace software provides a one-stop global solution for both wireless data and cloud service management for IoT devices. The combination of the LTE Cat-M1 capabilities of the MDM9206 modem with Verizon’s 4G LTE network and ThingSpace platform offers a simplified approach for building, deploying and managing IoT applications, which can be customized for a wide-range of IoT use cases including asset management, industrial automation, wearables, smart cities and more.

Building on the announcement from September of last year, Verizon and Qualcomm Technologies will showcase at CES® 2017 how pre-integration of the ThingSpace client within the MDM9206 Cat-M1 LTE modem supports novel use cases for industrial IoT segments such as comprehensive asset management and tracking using the live over-the-air 4G LTE Cat-M1 network.