Ottawa, Ill. – March 4, 2014 — B&B Electronics, a developer of mission-critical network connectivity solutions, today announced it has entered into a joint service agreement with KORE, the world's largest wireless network services provider specializing in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. The two companies are empowering customers with an M2M-enabled cellular router that is pre-packaged with a GSM or CDMA wireless data connectivity option, and offered as a starter kit for industrial M2M monitoring and control applications.
Under terms of the agreement, B&B Electronics will market its rugged Spectre 3G cellular router with a 3-month trial 3G data plan from KORE. With KORE, developers can wirelessly connect their mobile equipment within minutes of opening the box, with the flexibility to choose either KORE's GSM or CDMA North American 3G cellular network, both considered the largest in North America.
The starter kit is purpose-built specifically to help network engineers jump-start their industrial M2M application development efforts. Users can quickly deploy solutions without having to commit to a data services contract. Once they have the router from B&B Electronics in hand, they simply contact KORE to activate their data plan choice. At the end of the trial period, customers can then purchase the data plan that best fits the usage parameters of their deployed devices.
“We've found that industrial customers want an 'easy button' when activating and connecting their cellular M2M devices, similar to the experience consumers have at the local cellular store when connecting their mobile phones,” said Gerald Niemi, product manager, B&B Electronics. “It's our goal to work with MVNO partners like KORE who specialize in M2M connectivity to make that easy button a reality.”
“The B&B Electronics' Spectre 3G cellular router takes full advantage of the multi-technology capabilities of KORE,” said Robert Metzler, executive vice president of sales and marketing, KORE. “With one connection to KORE, customers can evaluate which technology to choose, GSM or CDMA, based on the specific demands of their application, such as coverage requrements and data usage, and change networks if the need should arise.This provides the ultimate insurance against changes in coverage or underlying network technologies, while accelerating time-to-market for new M2M applications.”
The B&B Electronics/KORE Starter Kit:
The starter kit provides everything customers need to connect, develop, deploy and use M2M applications in North America. It includes:
• Spectre 3G Cellular Router
• 10/100 Ethernet, RS-232/422/485, 802.11 Wi-Fi
• 3-month trial data plan with special pricing: 1GB ($29/month) or 5GB ($49/month)
• KORE PRiSMProTM M2M Business Management Platform, a Web-enabled portal that delivers complete visibility and control over device inventory, provisioning, cellular data usage, rate plans, device location and data sessions and other operational details.
Built for plug-and-play simplicity with extensive remote management, deployment and customization options, the rugged Spectre 3G wireless router connects over HSPA+/UMTS/CDMA/EDGE/GPRS cellular networks to local M2M networks connected via Ethernet 10/100 and serial RS-232/422/485, and offers enhanced features such as Modbus and Wi-Fi. Users manage the router's robust configuration options through a secure and easy-to-use Web interface or a powerful scripting engine. A rugged design with a wide operating range (-30 to 60°C) make the router ideal for M2M connectivity in harsh, remote environments.
Pricing & Availability:
The basic Spectre 3G router (Ethernet, I/O and USB) has an MSRP of $449. Advanced models add a Wi-Fi interface and either an RS-232 or RS-485 serial port for $599 MSRP. For a complete starter kit price, add the 3-month trial data plan: 1GB ($29/month) or 5GB ($49/month). All models carry a limited lifetime warranty and are available from B&B Electronics.
For more information: http://www.bb-elec.com/Spectre-Kore
About B&B Electronics:
Founded in 1981, B&B Electronics Manufacturing Co., Inc. provides mission-critical network connectivity solutions for wireless and wired networks based on Ethernet, serial, wireless and USB communication technologies. The company is known globally for its easy to use, rugged and reliable device networking products, as well as for its knowledgeable technical support, field applications personnel and responsive customer service. B&B Electronics is headquartered at 707 Dayton Road, P.O. Box 1040, Ottawa, IL 61350, 800-346-3119 and resides at www.bb-elec.com on the Internet.
About KORE:
KORE is the world's largest wireless network provider specializing exclusively on the rapidly expanding global M2M communications market. Providing unified control and management for cellular and satellite network service delivery in more than 180 countries worldwide, KORE empowers its application, hardware and wireless operator partners to efficiently deliver M2M solutions for connected devices across the globe. M2M applications in industries as diverse as healthcare, utilities, enterprise IT, transaction processing and fleet management rely on the KORE network to deliver operational efficiencies and cost-savings. KORE offers a range of technologies – including GSM, HSPA, CDMA EV-DO and LTE, as well as satellite services – that ensure the greatest possible reliability and coverage. For more information, please visit www.koretelematics.com.
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