Internet of Things network provider Silver Spring Networks is extending its developer program with the introduction of a new developer portal, developer kits and a simulation tool for application development.

Announced at Internet of Things World in Santa Clara, US, the company is hoping to accelerate what it calls the ‘Internet of Important Things’ by streamlining the development process and expanding the number of solution partners with access to the platform.

The new developer portal will introduce support for the Arduino developer environment, provide simplified software tools, and expand the range of devices and applications that can integrate with Silver Spring’s Starfish platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering.

To coincide with the new developer portal, Silver Spring has also announced the Milli Shield Dev Kit for Arduino boards, providing developers with hardware access to the company’s RF mesh IPv6 technology in a form factor designed for battery-operated devices.

Also announced is the ‘IoT Edge Router, Dev Edition’, which enables sensor connectivity to the Starfish platform via Ethernet of USB. The router also includes application development capability on Ubuntu Linux via SNAPS (a package builder for Linux OSes).

Rounding out the announcement is ‘Starfish Studio’, an interactive simulation tool for modelling IoT devices and solutions, facilitating application development for those without physical hardware.

In a statement, Silver Spring Networks’ GM and VP of product management John Marcolini said: “Our primary goal with the Developer Program is to provide partners with the open, scalable, and flexible tools and technologies needed to develop the game-changing solutions of tomorrow.

“Starfish enables partners to focus on their value-added application, by providing open access to a robust IoT network and data platform [and] for current customers, the Developer Program will help fast-track the creation of innovative connectivity solutions that can improve the lives of millions of people.”

The Milli Shield Dev Kit and IoT Edge Router are available in the US and Australia today for US$99.95/AU$134.95 and US$249.95/AU$334.95 respectively, with availability in the UK and Europe to commence in Q3 2017, and other regions to be announced later this year.

Starfish Studio will be available for all regions in late 2017.