Reduce IoT deployment cost with Blues Wireless Notecard XP

Asset tracking and remote monitoring applications necessitate the deployment of thousands of IoT devices, which significantly drives up overall costs. This increase is largely due to the need for robust processing power, coupled with the expensive redesigns required for cellular connectivity and circuit architecture. Blues Wireless has developed the cost-optimized Notecard XP, designed to reduce the bill of materials (BOM) cost by emphasizing a flexible design.

At its core, the Notecard XP features a low-power Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller, along with sensors such as a three-axis accelerometer and a temperature sensor. It also includes a secure element for authentication, ensuring future resilience against network shutdowns. The base model is affordably priced at $19 per unit, although the final cost may vary depending on optional add-ons tailored to specific application needs.

To maintain a balance between cost and functionality, several features are offered as optional enhancements. These include SIM switching hardware, which provides carrier flexibility for multi-network deployments, and optional GPS/GNSS capabilities for geolocation tracking in asset tracking and mobile devices. Furthermore, the device can be equipped with a conformal coating to safeguard against condensation and harsh environmental conditions. Lastly, an embedded SIM is available, complete with 500 MB of data for prepaid global data plans.

Through its wireless architecture, the company allows switching between major radio access technologies such as Cellular, Wi-Fi, LoRa, and Satellite at any stage of product development. Plus, the device supports many cellular standards, including NB-IoT, Cat-M, Cat-1 bis, and Cat-1, with coverage for various geographical locations. The goal of a pre-provisioned connectivity solution with a low-code JSON interface is to reduce the time-to-market.

In many large-scale IoT deployments, analyzing data generated at the edge is essential. To facilitate this analysis, data must be securely transmitted from IoT devices to cloud infrastructures. To support data transmission to various cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, or Snowflake, the company offers a no-code implementation using Notehub.

The Notecard XP is engineered for external power configuration to optimize the bill of materials (BOM) cost. This design choice eliminates the need for the internal power regulation typically found in standard Notecards, allowing engineers to streamline their designs around a single, unified power supply for their products.

For further information, please visit the official product page.

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