Intel Creates New Internet Of Things Business Unit

Last month, Intel executives began to lay out the company’s strategy around the Internet of Things (IoT) by growing the new family of Quark chips and extending the capabilities of certain Atom products. Now, the chip maker is creating a new business unit specifically aimed at IoT.

The IoT Solutions Group will bring together Intel’s Intelligent Systems Group and Wind River software business, and will address all elements of the burgeoning IoT space, from hardware and software to services, according to the company.

“This is the next step in the company’s ongoing activities supporting the proliferation of IoT implementations across the industry,” Intel spokesperson Krystal Temple said in an email. “Intel will deliver solutions for companies that are investing in technologies to both drive operating efficiencies and create new services by connecting devices to each other and the cloud to transform their businesses.”

Taking it seriously

The IoT refers to the rapidly growing number of intelligent appliances, systems and devices that are connected to the Internet and each other, generating massive amounts of data that needs to be collected, stored and analyzed. A wide range of tech vendors — from Cisco Systems and IBM to low-power chip designer ARM — are building strategies around IoT, a market that IDC analysts believe could be worth as much as $8.9 trillion by 2020.

In the end of October, Cisco announced it was creating its own IoT business unit.

The same month, Intel officials said the company’s IoT strategy will include not only arming the Quark X1000 and Atom E3800 Systems-on-a-Chip (SoCs) with such features as error-correcting code (ECC) memory and integrated security, but also gateways with integrated software from Wind River and Intel subsidiary McAfee.

The Quark SoC family was introduced by CEO Brian Krzanich in September. The chips are just a fifth the size of Atom and consume a tenth of the power, aimed at the IoT and wearable technology market, according to officials.

“Intel will deliver solutions for companies that are investing in technologies to both drive operating efficiencies and create new services by connecting devices to each other and the cloud to transform their businesses,” said Temple.

Intel veteran Doug Davis, who was running Intel’s embedded business, will be vice president and general manager of the new business unit. He will report directly to Krzanich and President Renee James.

What do you know about the Internet of things? Take our quiz!

Originally published on eWeek.