German firm Bosch has launched its own cloud for the myriad of IoT solutions provided by the company.

Announced at its ConnectedWorld IoT conference in Berlin, the Bosch IoT Cloud will be hosted in its own computer centre in Stuttgart, Germany and comprises technical infrastructure as well as platform and software offerings.

The IoT cloud will initially be used for in-house solutions, before general availability to other companies scheduled for 2017.

Bosch’s cloud system will be underpinned by its IoT Suite, which offers the software functionality necessary to connect devices, users and companies.

The IoT Suite is capable of storing rules for automated decision-making, and is already serving over five million devices and machines.

“As of today, we offer all the ace cards for the connected world from a single source," Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said at the conference.

“The Bosch IoT Cloud is the final piece of the puzzle that completes our software expertise.

“We are now a full service provider for connectivity and the Internet of Things.”

The Bosch IoT Cloud is already hosting a number of IoT solutions.

Heating service technicians are able to remotely access the company’s heating units for troubleshooting purposes and determine required parts for repair prior to a callout, giving customers the benefit of lower service costs.

The cloud also generates an online map of available parking spaces throughout Stuttgart’s commuter train network, which is accessible from a user’s smartphone.

“These examples show that intelligently connected devices, complemented by services from our IoT Cloud, are the basis of successful IoT business models,” Denner said.