AWS IoT Launches With Robotics, Gaming And Cars In Mind

Amazon Web Services has made its AWS IoT platform generally availability, following a two-month beta testing period.

Announced in October at AWS’ re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, AWS IoT service is designed to help companies work with the reams of data gleamed from Internet-connected devices. The services is already being used by two firms: Philips and Scout Alarm.

Storage

Philips is using AWS IoT for its HealthSuite digital health platform, where multiple petabytes of patient data has to be collected, analysed and stored.

Scout Alarm is putting AWS IoT to use by support its fleet of self-installed, home security systems.

In both these cases, and for every other customer of AWS IoT, the attraction comes from Amazon handling all of the storage and compute infrastructure on Amazon Web Services.

“We built AWS IoT because connected devices are proliferating,” said AWS chief evangelist Jeff Barr. “They are in your house, your car, your office, your school, and perhaps even in your body! Like some of our more advanced customers, we have been building systems around connected devices for quite some time.

“Our experience with Amazon Robotics, drones (Amazon Prime Air), the Amazon Echo, the Dash Button, and multiple generations of Kindles has given us a well-informed perspective on how to serve this really important emerging market,” said Barr.

AWS envisions its IoT platform to be used across most verticals, including robotics, gaming, agriculture, and the medical industry.

AWS IoT will now compete with Microsoft Azure’s IoT platform ‘IoT Suite’, which was launched in September. AWS’ other big rivals, Google and IBM, do not have their own IoT-centric services.

Take our AWS quiz here!