Nokia is continuing its new direction into the Internet of Things with the launch of a device management platform catering to the growing IoT ecosystem.

Dubbed IMPACT (Intelligent Management Platform for All Connected Things), it is built on a new release of the company’s Motive Connected Device Platform (CDP), used by multiple telecommunications providers to manage the lifecycle of their fleets of SIM-based and SIM-less network connected devices.

According to former mobile phone powerhouse, the new platform can handle data collection, event processing, device management, data contextualisation, analytics, end-to-end security and applications enablement for any device, any protocol, and across any application.

Nokia hopes that this new platform will provide the capabilities that its customers require to make the transition into an IoT-enabled world through its application- and device-agnostic approach to IoT ecosystem management.

More than just device management

IoT Hub spoke with Nokia’s chief marketing officer integration lead Ric Clark about the new platform and the ramifications for the Australian market.

“IMPACT provides a horizontal capability to be able to manage, aggregate, control and monetise a range of IoT applications, as opposed to the vertical-centric systems which have more traditionally been rolled out, whether they be industry or technology-specific,” he said.

“It’s an overall approach to the IoT market to start pulling all of its various parts together.”

Clark said that the platform will evolve as different types of connected devices emerge, and in particular, the analytics capabilities provided will also evolve as the needs of the platform’s users change, whether it be telcos or big business.

“The platform could be used by a mobile carrier as a managed service to their vertical industry enterprise customers, or for large enterprises themselves, such as utilities companies,” he said.

Clark said that Nokia is also providing customers access to the ng Connect Program, which allows them to perform market trials and develop proof-of-concept with the platform in collaboration with Nokia and other program partners, prior to commercial release and deployment.

He also sees the Australian market as mature enough to adopt platforms like IMPACT, despite its relatively small size.

“There are lots of potential applications for the platform, such as the utilities space or in government, where we’ve already seen the outsourcing or corporatising of some of these types of services,” he said.

“We also know the mining sector has been an early adopter of IoT in mine sites, and it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine that a large mining company based out of Australia might invest in deploying a system like this with a view to expanding it globally.

“I don’t really see any impediment to [IMPACT’s] adoption in the Australian environment.”

This latest announcement continues Nokia's expansion into the IoT market, following its recent acquisition of smart health product manufacturer Withings and partnership with Intel to develop 5G radio technologies and network solutions.