Sierra Wireless has released the industry’s first global, dual-mode Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) cellular modules. The AirPrime WP77 smart wireless modules simplify LPWA deployments for customers developing products that need to connect to multiple networks where different LPWA technologies are supported.
The AirPrime WP77 supports both LTE-M (Cat-M1) and NB-IoT (Cat-NB1) with optional 2G fallback, allowing customers to deploy the same device with multiple network operators worldwide. For those deploying in regions where 4G LTE coverage is not as widely available, 2G fallback ensures their devices stay connected to the network.
With the commercialization of LTE-M and NB-IoT LPWA technologies, cellular is now a superior option for many IoT applications that were previously restricted to short-range technologies due to cost and battery life. LPWA technologies combine lower cost, broader coverage and better battery life with globally available and secure cellular networks and will connect millions more things to the Internet.
With the AirPrime modules, IoT developers have everything they need in a single module to quickly build low-power connected products that can be deployed anywhere in the world. While, the integrated open source Legato platform and AirVantage cloud provide customers with a proven device-to-cloud architecture to design innovative LPWA solutions that extend the IoT into new applications.
The WP series dramatically simplifies development for secure telematics and gateway applications, providing a dedicated application CPU core running the Linux-based open source Legato application framework. With integrated GNSS for tracking and location-based services, low-power modes, and a comprehensive set of interfaces for connecting sensors and companion chips, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, customers can develop multi-service platforms for the transportation market, and use the WP77 for applications requiring low throughput and optimized power performance.
The WP77 is fully compliant with the 3GPP Release 13 standard and compatible with other devices in the WP family, retaining the same footprint, form factor, application framework and Linux distribution. Sierra Wireless AirPrime HL and WP Series modules are the smallest embedded modules (22 x 23 mm) to be completely interchangeable across 2G, 3G, 4G and LPWA technologies. They use the CF3 form factor, which is footprint compatible across product lines, providing customers with the option to develop smarter by building their connected IoT product or service on a single module.
The WP77 modules are currently sampling with lead customers, with general availability scheduled in early 2018. Click here to learn more.
