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World's Smallest 3G Module Will Connect Everything To the Internet

Posted by samzenpus on from the get-connected dept.

jfruh writes The U-blox SARA-U260 chip module is only 16 by 26 millimeters — and it's just been certified to work with AT&T's 3G network. While consumers want 4G speeds for their browsing needs, 3G is plenty fast for the innumerable automated systems that will be necessary for the Internet of Things to work. From the article: "The U-blox SARA-U260 module, which measures 16 by 26 millimeters, can handle voice calls. But it's not designed for really small phones for tiny hands. Instead, it's meant to carry the small amounts of data that machines are sending to each other over the 'Internet of things,' where geographic coverage -- 3G's strong suit -- matters more than top speed. That means things like electric meters, fitness watches and in-car devices that insurance companies use to monitor policyholders' driving."

4 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Fuck them sideways with a rusty chainsaw! by kheldan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ..in-car devices that insurance companies use to monitor policyholders' driving

    Over my dead body.

    *find tiny cellphone antenna*
    *SNIP*

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
  2. Re:IOT by dos1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I see some potential in some of its applications, but actually most of the time "LAN of Things" would be just enough.

  3. Re:Cost by PsychoSlashDot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So I have 10 devices I want to hook up. The AC, the lights, refrigerator, washing machine, toaster, whatever. Does that mean I need 10 phone and data contracts with AT&T at 30 bucks (or more) each and then the payments recur every month? I can see why AT&T might like this technology.

    No, it means two things:

    1} You should reconsider the wisdom of having your household appliances connected to the Internet
    2} You should wait for the appliances to have a Wifi modem instead, which isn't completely moronic

    Seriously, why should anyone's fridge be consuming any neighborhood spectrum to communicate with a cell tower? Short-range grouping of devices onto one backbone - which more often than not is over wired connections - is far more efficient. But we all know spectrum is a renewable resource... we can just make more, right?

    --
    "Oh no... he found the .sig setting."
  4. Interconnected network of hacked things by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I shudder when i think about all the way these things will be hacked and pwned... I remember a Samsung fridge with a touchscreen to run Twitter, and someone put on the fridge "I'm a fridge, why the fuck am I on twitter."

    That and the world scrambling to fix the Shellshock bug that was 20+ years in the making...