The IoT button – Fantasy or Business?
Samsung and Telefonica do have „Lego“ for IoT buttons.
Read more: http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=490141
Are we able to make a mint of money with such a button? If yes then it makes sense to follow a train of thoughts listed in my IoT M2M Cookbook. Such a button can everybody produce for less than USD 10.
IoT M2M Cookbook
In my IoT M2M Cookbook – excerpt here:
http://www.gsm-modem.de/M2M/m2m_iot_cookbook
I explained in detail how to design a tracking device based on cellular modules (2G, 3G, 4G) and GNSS (GPS, Glonass, Galileo).
An IoT button has no need for GPS. It has no need for a battery or a charger as well.
Estimated bill of material for the IoT button in mass production:
- – GPRS module with RTOS (Nucleus and 8 tasks) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleus_RTOS
- – MCU do not apply = USD 0
- – GSM PCB track antenna out of the IoT M2M Cookbook = USD 0
- – SIM Card connector does not apply, because it has a SIM on Chip = USD 0
- – USB connector + diode + low ESR capacitor < USD 1
- – Capacitive button + enclosure < USD 1
- – PCB smaller than 86,6 mm x 54 mm. (ISO 7810, ID-1-Format, credit card size) < USD 1
- – M2M SIM card without fee – Pay as you go SIM card
Summary < USD 10
Estimated one off costs for the prototype of the IoT button:
- GCC GNU Complier = USD 0
- Code samples = USD 0
- Software to develop the PCB = USD 0
- 2 x M2M test SIM cards (standard SIM and SIM on Chip) = USD 0
- IoT M2M Cookbook = estimated USD 100
- Evaluation kit for GPRS module does not apply = USD 0
- 1 x GPRS module < USD 10
- 5 x two layer PCB by PCB Pool < USD 150 https://www.pcb-pool.com/ppde/order_productconfiguration_js.html
Summary < USD 300
Estimated one off costs for the mass production:
- Certification in Europe by own declaration = USD 0
- Certification in EU + US by Notified Body = USD 12.000
- Mould for enclosure = ???
I will ask for the costs of a mould for plastic enclosures in credit card size of (86,6 + 2 x 54 + 2 x 5) mm. A simple symmetric half shell without screws. Bottom and top shelf will be the same.
BTW, I am working on a temperature sensor for my brother’s green houses. The BOM is close to the upper mentioned parts. As addition on there are sensors for temperature, air humidity and soil moisture on a bus system. The summary of the sensors is more expensive than the communication box.
In the end this question remains: Are we able to make a mint of money with such a button?
Does it makes sense to start a Kickstarter campaign? Which target groups have a need for a IoT button?
Thank you in advance for a comment or an email to harald.naumann (at) gsm – modem. de