Echelon's New SmartServer IoT Enables Customers to Embrace, Extend and Enhance Existing Industrial IoT Networks Using Cloud-Based Analytics

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet of Things pioneer Echelon Corp (NASDAQ: ELON) today announced the SmartServertm IoT platform, a powerful new addition to its popular SmartServer family that simplifies the process of connecting traditional and emerging industrial devices to cloud analytics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) applications. The new SmartServer IoT features modern web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and an IoT-friendly distributed intelligence architecture. The product supports popular IIoT (industrial IoT) protocols such as LonWorks, BACnet, Modbus and M-Bus along with IT-centric connectivity technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The new product is up to ten times faster and has more than 50 times the memory of the previous generation platform (SmartServer 2), and with its rich set of APIs enables developers to create solutions in days or weeks instead of months or years. SmartServer IoT will be available for sampling in Q2 2018 and ship in volume before the end of 2018.

The SmartServer IoT is ideal for both OEMs and system integrators in the IIoT space. Both will now be able to collect and analyze data from existing traditional control system installations running protocols such as LonWorks, BACnet or Modbus, as well as extend those installations with IT-centric solutions such as Wi-Fi. OEMs benefit from faster development times, flexible deployment options and easy customization. Integrators working with customers to expand or improve in-place controllers and sensors are able to get actionable information to the cloud quickly, without having to rip and replace the old devices. All users benefit from a dramatic improvement in performance.

SmartServer IoT is open, programmable and extensible. Most traditional commercial and industrial control systems are proprietary, do not fully support interoperability across vendors or prohibit adding support and services for new devices; SmartServer IoT does not have such limitations. Similarly, edge servers from IT-centric vendors do not provide support for the traditional control protocols that are built into SmartServer IoT.

"SmartServer IoT introduces a whole new world to LonWorks: the world of IoT," said Ron Bernstein, CEO/Executive Director of LonMark International. "Echelon's mission of 'embrace, extend, enhance' brings the promise of cloud analytics, big data and AI to existing and emerging LonWorks solutions, thereby creating opportunity for countless improvements to business, process, and quality."

"The SmartServer IoT has the APIs and interfaces needed to get information from devices to the cloud, making development and deployment time much, much faster," said Alan Slabodkin, VP of Controls at Western Allied Corporation. "Since it can support devices from multiple vendors, and connect traditional or new protocols to the cloud, we are able to help customers achieve business outcomes that were impossible before. Other solutions do not compare and typically are closed or require a time consuming and expensive overhaul and replacement of devices."

"SmartServer IoT delivers the value of the IoT to traditional control systems, unleashing the data locked in those systems by bringing the worlds of operational technology (OT), information technology (IT), and cloud services together in a single system," said Rich Blomseth, Director Product Management. "We loaded up this device with the software, services, and APIs needed to connect OT devices -- sensors, actuators, and controls in industrial systems -- to the cloud, saving our customers untold hours of development time and creating opportunities for revolutionary new smart control systems." 

To begin developing applications on SmartServer IoT or for more information go to https://www.echelon.com/products/smartserver-iot.

About Echelon Corporation:

For 30 years Echelon (NASDAQ:ELON) has pioneered the development of open-standard networking platforms for connecting, monitoring and controlling devices in commercial and industrial applications. With more than 140 million connected devices installed worldwide, Echelon's solutions host a range of applications enabling customers to reduce energy and operational costs, improve safety and comfort, and create efficiencies through optimizing physical systems. Echelon is focusing today on two IoT (Internet of Things) market areas: creating smart cities and smart campuses through connected outdoor lighting systems, and enabling device makers to bring connected products to market faster via a range of IoT-optimized embedded systems. More information about Echelon can be found at www.echelon.com.

Echelon, the Echelon logo, and SmartServer IoT, are trademarks of Echelon Corporation that may be registered in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release may contain statements relating to future plans, events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, the risk that Echelon's offerings by themselves or combined with other applications or offerings do not perform as designed or do not offer the expected benefits and savings; and other risks identified in Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:
Thomas Cook
Echelon Corp.
[email protected]

SOURCE Echelon Corporation