1. IoT devices take the lead in connections to internet
Connected IoT devices have, for the first time, surpassed non-IoT devices (smartphones, laptops and computers) in number, reaching 54 per cent of the 21.7 billion active devices connected to the internet, IoT Analytics reports. By 2025, the number of active IoT connections is projected to reach 30 billion.
2. Smart manufacturing leads the way in IoT use
IoT connections are set to grow in every sector, but smart manufacturing will outshine them all, with a predicted 22 billion connections by 2025, according to Juniper Research. It notes that enterprises should look into fragmentation and migrate 3G connections to 4G to succeed with IoT.
3. Pandemic affects IoT growth prospects
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the growth prospects for IoT adoption, reports Analysys Mason. Factors include cancelled or delayed contracts, reduced demand and disrupted IoT supply chains. Some IoT applications, most notably in healthcare, have experienced an increase in demand.
4. Prospects for connected wearables looking good
The IoT-enabled wearables market is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14 per cent, with smart eyewear emerging as the leading segment of the market, an analysis by Technavio finds.
Gitpaste-12 is a new worm recently discovered by Juniper Threat Labs. This worm uses GitHub and Pastebin for housing component code and has at least 12 different attack modules available. In addition to Linux ARM- and MIPS-based IoT devices, the worm also targets Linux-based x86 servers.
6. IoT will help drive smart-city spending
Smart-city spending is predicted to reach $34.5 billion this year. Writing in Analytics Insight, Kulmohan Singh, director of sales and marketing at X-Byte Enterprise Solutions, says there are seven major trends to look for in this space, including the use of sensors for transportation congestion, waste management and fire detection.
7. Role of IoT in digital workplaces keeps growing
The role of IoT in the digital workplace is broadening, with IoT-enabled cameras and sensors expected to be indispensable for manufacturing in 2021. IoT wearables and sensors will also play a big role in keeping office spaces safe and sanitised.
8. IoT adoption adds up for accounting
The accounting sector is set to benefit from IoT in many ways, from the automatic gathering and distribution of information, to tracking time management of employees, InnovateBTS consultant Kevin Gardner writes in the BBN Times. This straightforward discussion explains IoT for a non-technical audience.
9. Mining industry discovers IoT delivers real ROI
For anyone doubting the business case for IoT, research by Inmarsat found that the mining industry invested 3.9 per cent of its budget in IoT over the last three years, which led to cost savings of 5.1 per cent. Savings are set to rise to 18.9 per cent in five years.
10. After unicorn hype, disappointment: Can Sigfox achieve success again?
Sigfox, a former IoT up-and-comer, planned to build an IoT communications network globally and charge users to use it. That didn’t work out so well. Now the firm has pivoted to a new IoT space focused on industrial uses. Is there life beyond the hype?
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