ITK reader's choice 2016 winner

In the past years, m2m Germany has already convinced with its M2M solutions and won the funkschau readers' choice in 2014 and 2015. This year, too, a product from m2m Germany impressed the readers. The "Connectivity Family" was awarded as ICT Product of the Year. This "Family" is a connector product family based on the different standards of Bluetooth for the age of Industry 4.0....

A total of 14 companies were nominated in the category "M2M solutions" and only 3 of the nominees were able to receive one of the coveted trophies

"we make your business wireless" is the basis

The foundation for the Connectivity Family was laid back in 2011 with the Blue-1000 - at that time the first Bluetooth USB stick with a range of up to 1000 meters. It was not foreseeable at the time that this would develop into an entire product family. The "Blue-450 Smart" was the first addition in terms of smart sticks. This stick has already won awards and is in use worldwide. New additions to the family are the Blue-400 Dual and the BlueNext+.

Independent, flexible and future-oriented

If required, it is possible to "connect" different Bluetooth standards with each other - depending on the stick, e.g. with the Blue-400 Dual it is possible to connect previous and new standards with each other due to the integrated Smart Ready technology. Bluetooth Classic, Smart and Smart Ready can be found together in one stick and that too with up to 8 devices simultaneously.

For future-oriented Bluetooth applications there is also a stick that is upgradeable - the BlueNext+. Bluetooth v4.1 Single Mode becomes BTv4.2. Update and configuration are easy and comfortable thanks to virtual COM port and flash memory. The BlueNEXT+ opens doors for future Bluetooth applications. It, too, is available for the long term, is of high quality and is suitable for industrial use.

The ranges of the sticks vary - depending on the application requirements - from 200m - 1000m. All existing Bluetooth standards can be covered with the Connectivity Family and even connected with each other. Devices that no longer have a serial connection are given a defined interface to the Bluetooth application via USB thanks to Connectivity Smart Sticks. The proprietary Bluetooth stack eliminates the need for Windows Bluetooth drivers and stacks. This means that users no longer have to rely on the operating system's Bluetooth stack. They can communicate directly with up to eight Bluetooth devices simultaneously via a virtual serial COM port.

For more transparency and multifunctional use

Due to the compatibility with current tablets and smartphones, the application possibilities are almost limitless. Thus, applications are possible in home and building technology, commercial and industrial automation, logistics and inventory or in positioning systems. The sticks are also suitable for use in the medical environment and they enable the interaction of several devices simultaneously, something that is particularly interesting for medical sensors, wearables and the like.

One scenario would be the use in warehouse logistics and telematics. In a large warehouse, for example, there is one or more PCs. On the computer there is a stick from the Connectivity Family. It receives all relevant data from a passing forklift truck that has a Bluetooth gateway. This means that all driver data and vehicle data are immediately available. Employees in larger warehouses or vehicle fleets benefit equally. Depending on the stick used, hand-held scanners can increase their range by five to six times that of conventional devices. The interaction of merchandise management and warehouse logistics systems via smartphone and tablet is also optimized. This enables even more flexible action and increases the efficient use of goods and personnel.

With our Connectivity Smart Sticks, we are primarily addressing users in industry, logistics and merchandise management or in the medical sector, hospitals, laboratories or care facilities - further application scenarios are conceivable.
We would also be happy to send you further information material on our Connectivity Family. Please request them by e-mail to vertrieb@m2mgermany.de or by phone at +49 (0) 6081 587 38 60 - we are happy to be of service to you!