The R&D division of Spanish telco Telefónica – I+D – has launched a new line of ‘smart buttons’ that enable IoT functionality without the need for an accompanying connected device.

Scott Bicheno

June 23, 2015

1 Min Read
Telefónica unveils standalone IoT smart buttons

The R&D division of Spanish telco Telefónica – I+D – has launched a new line of ‘smart buttons’ that enable IoT functionality without the need for an accompanying connected device.

The programmable buttons can be used to perform simple IoT tasks, such as alerts and service requests. The contain their own embedded SIM cards, so are independently connected and fully functional without the need for other sources of connectivity.

Telefónica has also revealed a couple of case studies to exemplify their use. Shipping company SEUR is using the button to enable the automatic generation and sending of a package collection order. It will be making these available for customers that use standard services and frequent collection requests. The smart button used by taxi company

Cabify will enable its customers to choose the vehicle type and receive details of the car and driver assigned to collect them. The embedded SIM has global coverage (so long as you’re in a Telefónica country, presumably), so Cabify is intending to expand this service to Chile, Peru and Mexico.

As with many current IoT applications this feel like the tip of the iceberg, and isn’t even the first smart button initiative to make an appearance in recent months following Amazon’s similar concept. But while making the ordering of taxis or food a bit easier may seem relatively trivial, they do serve to seed the market and get us one step closer to establishing what, exactly, IoT is going to be.

About the Author(s)

Scott Bicheno

As the Editorial Director of Telecoms.com, Scott oversees all editorial activity on the site and also manages the Telecoms.com Intelligence arm, which focuses on analysis and bespoke content.
Scott has been covering the mobile phone and broader technology industries for over ten years. Prior to Telecoms.com Scott was the primary smartphone specialist at industry analyst Strategy Analytics’. Before that Scott was a technology journalist, covering the PC and telecoms sectors from a business perspective.
Follow him @scottbicheno

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