2019 Internet Of Things 50: 15 Coolest IoT Hardware Companies

IoT 50: Hardware

Hardware comes in many forms in the Internet of Things, whether it’s the underlying processors that power the devices, the sensors that collect information from the physical world or the edge computers that collect and analyze the data. Multiple categories of hardware, which includes gateways, radios and chipsets, play a critical role and expensive role in IoT, which is why research firm IDC forecasts that spending on hardware, modules and sensors for 2019 will reach more than $450 billion. For vendors, this means a there are big opportunities to bring new innovative hardware offerings to market.

What follows are 15 companies with the coolest IoT hardware solutions.

Arm

Top Executive: Simon Segars, CEO

Cambridge, U.K.-based Arm is substantially expanding its IoT capabilities, which includes last year’s launch of Pelion, an end-to-end IoT connectivity, device and data management platform that combines features from two acquisitions it made, and a new security certification program for IoT devices.

Bosch

Top Executive: Volkmar Denner, Chairman, CEO

Bosch offers a range of hardware and software for IoT, including the Bosch IoT Suite and multi-sensor devices. More recently, the German company launched Phantom, an asset management offering that monitors and analyzes energy usage of devices on an electrical network.

Cambium Networks

Top Executive: Atul Bhatnagar, President, CEO

Cambium Networks provides the cnReach line of narrowband radios for industrial IoT deployments. The Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based company’s radios feature licensed wireless narrowband networking capabilities that connects devices at the edge across long distances back to their data centers.

Cisco Systems

Top Executive: Chuck Robbins, Chairman, CEO

San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco Systems is making IoT a bigger part of its overall strategy with the launch of new intent-based networking capabilities for edge networks and a set of new resources intended to help partners accelerate deployments and expand their businesses.

Dell Technologies

Top Executive: Michael Dell, Chairman, CEO

As Dell re-enters life as a publicly traded company, the Round Rock, Texas-based vendor is diving deeper into IoT at the edge with the recent launch of IoT Connected Bundles, a combination of hardware and software products that gives partners market-ready solutions.

Eaton

Top Executive: Craig Arnold, Chairman, CEO

Dublin, Ireland-based Eaton is taking its heritage in power management technologies to seize the IoT opportunity, with solutions like PredictPulse, which uses analytics to predict the failure of power components, and its connected lighting products for increased operational efficiencies.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Top Executive: Antonio Neri, President, CEO

HPE is looking to further strengthen its offerings in the IoT edge with the new Edgeline OT Link Platform that automates the interplay between IT and OT applications within the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company’s growing lineup of Edgeline gateway systems.

Intel

Top Executive: Bob Swan, CEO

With its lineup of CPUs, FPGAs and RealSense components for IoT devices, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker is creating new ways for partners and customers to create IoT solutions through development tools like OpenVINO and programs like IoT Market Ready Solutions.

Lenovo

Top Executive: Yang Yuanqing, Chairman, CEO

Hong Kong-based Lenovo is making a big move into IoT with a new line of edge computing products, including the ThinkSystem SE350, a purpose-built edge server that combines increased processor power, storage and networking in a form factor that is slightly larger than a ThinkPad laptop.

National Instruments

Top Executive: Alex Davern, President, CEO

National Instruments makes modular hardware and software for industrial IoT deployments, which includes modules and devices for machine vision, pressure and force measurements and motion control. The Austin, Texas-based company’s software includes industry-specific systems for data acquisition and control.

Particle

Top Executive: Zach Supalla, CEO

San Francisco-based Particle provides an IoT hardware, software and connectivity platform that makes it easier for developers to design and manage IoT products. The company has expanded its arsenal of developer tools with things like the IoT Rules Engine, a drag-and-drop application builder.

Qualcomm

Top Executive: Steven Mollenkopf, CEO

Qualcomm is expanding its chip offerings in the IoT space, with new chipsets like the 9205 LTE modem that is aimed at devices running on low-power, wide-area networks. The San Diego-based company is also making a push for better AI capabilities with its Vision Intelligence Platform.

Rigado

Top Executive: Ben Corrado, CEO

Rigado provides the Cascade Edge-as-a-Service that combines the Portland, Ore.-based company’s Cascade-500 IoT gateway with a managed solution for secure edge computing, a range of connectivity options and the ability to run applications in containers for a monthly subscription fee.

Roambee

Top Executive: Sanjay Sharma, CEO

Roambee makes sensors and beacons for asset tracking and fleet monitoring as part of its end-to-end visibility solution. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company’s Honeycomb IoT API platform ties together sensor data from these devices and combines it with other data streams for actionable information.

Samsara

Top Executive: Sanjit Biswas, CEO

After recently raising a fresh $100 million in venture capital, sensor data platform provider Samsara, based in San Francisco, is expanding its connected operations offerings for fleet management, which includes dash cameras, GPS fleet tracking, dispatch management and refrigeration monitoring.