Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Other Tech Companies Form New IoT Alliance (techtimes.com)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next step toward technological advancement but it requires a huge effort on manufacturers' and developers' part to make different devices and operating systems to function seamlessly with one another. Now, many of the big names in the industry are banding together to form the Open Connectivity Foundation or OCF to set standards for IoT devices. The lineup includes ARRIS, CableLabs, Cisco, Electrolux, GE Digital, Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Samsung, which will all work closely with one another to set rules and specifications to guarantee a singular advancement in the field.

Comments

Important question

[Anonymous Coward]

Does this consortium plan to set standards for security? I'm not convinced that the biggest issue facing IoT is interoperability but rather the security (or lack of it) in many devices. Many of the ideas are very cool, but unless they're secured, IoT devices are backdoors into otherwise secure networks. I'm hoping that the result is an industry standard for IoT security.

Re:Important question

[U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M]

Microsoft is involved so you can be sure that (lack of) security will be implemented.

Re: Important question

[Anonymous Coward]

127.0.0.1
Bring it on.

Re:Important question

[WaffleMonster]

Does this consortium plan to set standards for security?

Sure like they did for UPnP.

I'm not convinced that the biggest issue facing IoT is interoperability but rather the security (or lack of it) in many devices.

My guess the biggest issue facing IoT is lack of a compelling value proposition.

Telling even with over the top cheerleading of TFA "The Internet of Things (IoT) is definitely the next step toward technological advancement" they chose to mention an Internet connected fridge and "smart shoes".

Many of the ideas are very cool, but unless they're secured, IoT devices are backdoors into otherwise secure networks

That's a tall order given the business case for IoT in consumer space is exfiltration of private information, government sponsored snooping and ads.

I'm hoping that the result is an industry standard for IoT security.

The industry standard for IoT is the front page of the New York times.

Backdoor Alliance

[zenlessyank]

Gotta make sure those backdoors have compatible interoperability.

Power grab by the big boys

[Dracos]

This is a power grab by established giants to prevent an emerging market from getting away from their control. There are no actual IoT entities here: Raspberry Pi Foundation, Arduino LLC, etc. Not even ARM Holdings, whose chips designs will be in most IoT devices. Just the overrepresentation of Cable related companies makes it suspicious.

Re:Power grab by the big boys

[thegarbz]

Errr "IoT entities"? What do any of the above manufacture that makes them IoT entities?
Raspberry Pi : a small computer with ethernet and no features to justify it's IoT name, not even it's size.
Arduino LLC: An out of the box microcontroller development board which comes with no software at all (kind of the important part of IoT)
ARM Holdings: Microcontroller manufacturer who has no hardware IoT devices.

See, not a thing. The closest any of the above come to being IoT is that they enable tinkerers to build their own IoT devices. But given IoT is all about software and interfacing options they do a heck of a crap job at that. Arduino actually has the biggest portfolio there, but that has little to do with the company and everything to do with with the shield concept many of which aren't even developed by them but rather just sold open community designs (Is Allied Express an IoT firm now too?). Now let's compare that to the list of companies involved:

ARRIS - Company deploying IoT wireless devices and providing IoT services
CableLabs - Company deploying IoT wireless devices
Cisco - Company manufacturing IoT wireless gateways and multi-protocol gateways used in IoT devices.
Electrolux - Company that has been experimenting with putting IoT crap in all their products since before it was called IoT
GE Digital - Company that has been experimenting with putting IoT crap in all their products since before it was called IoT
Intel - Company which may sound like ARM or Arduino above, but actually invests actual R&D money into IoT.
Microsoft - Company with an active IoT platform, active IoT products, and active IoT related partnerships with many vendors on the market.
Qualcomm - Company producing all-in-one IoT SOCs. These guys are far more relevant in the sector than ARM will ever be.
Samsung - Company that has been experimenting with putting IoT crap in all their products since before it was called IoT

Actually if I were to question some notable omissions I would be looking at:

Philips - IoT device manufacturer which has been caught out for breaking interoperability.
Google - Nest / Brillo platforms
Apple - Homekit platform
Zigbee Alliance - IoT network and retrofit product provider back before IoT was a thing.

Next step in technological advancement

[penguinoid]

Specifically, the next step in technological advancement of omnipresent surveillance/"telemetry" and of vendor lock-in and of forced upgrades and of dependency on corporate services. If that sounds good, just wait until some joker writes a virus to make your lightbulbs blink obscene messages in Morse code or pit your heater against your air conditioner.

Seriously?

[scdeimos]

Half those players were involved in DLNA (DHWG) and look how well that worked out. Hint: most DLNA servers need client-specific profiles to hack the data streams so that they render correctly on the client.

As of November 2015, there are 13 promoter members and 171 contributor members. The promoter members are: Arris, AwoX, Broadcom, CableLabs, Comcast, Dolby Laboratories, Intel, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, Sony Electronics, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon.

REF: Digital Living Network Alliance