Members of the mobile and telecommunications industries gathered at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, held from February 26 to 29. The main trends at MWC so far are AI, 5G and always-on connectivity.
We're rounding up the enterprise technology news from MWC that's most relevant to IT and technology decision makers. This article will be updated throughout MWC with more top tech news.
Deutsche Telekom adds network-level security for enterprises
After AT&T announced network level security monitoring For business customers in select locations earlier this month, Deutsche Telekom (which operates in some regions as T-Mobile) launched its own version at the MWC. Starting in 2025, “Magenta Security on Net” will offer Secure Access Service Edge provided by a dedicated team of the telco's networking and security experts, as well as “additional security levels tailored to their (customers') specific needs.” “.
The state of 5G and enterprise IoT, according to GSMA
According to the latest assessment (January 2024) by the Global Mobile Communications System of the current generation cellular network standard, 261 operators in 101 countries have launched commercial 5G services. (GSMA is the mobile industry organization that organizes the Mobile World Congress). Additionally, the enterprise segment has 10.7 billion IoT connections, compared to 10.5 billion consumer connections.
With IoT and mobile traffic expected to grow, the GSMA expects to find more IoT business opportunities for the telecommunications industry, opportunities for generative AI, the aforementioned API channel, and 5G RedCap, a connectivity standard that provides efficiency business (“reduced capacity”). IoT.
TikTok joins Open Gateway
Telefónica and TikTok have partnered to use Open gateway, the open and standardized API initiative created by GSMA. Open Gateway will be used to streamline registration or password recovery on TikTok using a phone number. GSMA has positioned this as a high-profile test case for Open Gateway.
Brazil will be the first country to see the results of the collaboration, and it could be interesting to see if this starts a trend of other companies paying for API access to wireless networks.
Humane shows its new wearable, the Ai Pin
The Humane AI team demonstrated its mobile phone alternative, called Ai Pin, on the MWC show floor (Figure A). The $699 wearable (plus subscription service) is an intriguing look at a possible future where voice commands to generative AI replace most interactions now done through apps on phones.
The Ai Pin is expected to ship in March 2024. This wearable device is primarily aimed at consumers, but the device could have productivity benefits for remote workers, and the ideas behind the Pin could trickle down to what other device makers make. AI try next.
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Intel bets on 5G and AI
Intel hooked a handful of ads to MWC including:
- Intel's Edge platform, a software platform for businesses to build and manage edge and AI solutions on commodity hardware, will arrive later in the first quarter.
- A preview of Intel's upcoming Xeon processor for 5G core, codenamed Sierra Forest and expected in late 2024.
- A look at Granite Rapids-D, the Xeon processor expected to launch in 2025.
- Intel wants to install its chips in 100 million AI-enabled PCs by next year.
Qualcomm brings together Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ultra-wideband on a single chip
Qualcomm announced on Quick Connect 7900 Mobile Connectivity System, a chip that uses Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth or Ultra Wideband technologies depending on what the circumstances require. For enterprise use, the system opens opportunities for proximity-based functionality (e.g., could be used in IoT-enabled factories) and multi-device experiences (e.g., easy file sharing, intelligent audio switching between wireless headphones based on context and usage ). the same mice and keyboards with different PCs, phones and tablets).
Lenovo and Motorola present Smart Connect
An attractive feature of the Apple ecosystem is the ease with which devices can communicate with each other with features like AirDrop and Find My. Lenovo and Motorola will offer some of the same services with Smart connectionthat synchronizes peripheral controls, notifications, file sharing, and cameras between Lenovo PCs running Windows 10 or later and select Lenovo tablets and Motorola devices (Figure B). Smart Connect will be available for download through the Microsoft or Google Play stores “in the coming months.”
Additionally, Motorola had its fun, still-experimental adaptive display on hand, which is flexible enough to allow someone use a phone as a bracelet.
rSIM claims protection against mobile downtime
One of the most notable new brands to emerge from MWC 2024 so far is SIM, whose product focuses on device-agnostic connectivity to provide support during outages. rSIM may accidentally benefit from being able to present its product as a possible solution to outages like the one AT&T experienced last week.
rSIM could be an interesting option for IoT-intensive workplaces to ensure workers stay connected. rSIM sells to mobile operators, device manufacturers and value-added resellers.
Nokia is now Dell's primary partner for enterprise edge use cases
Dell and Nokia have signed a partnership that will allow Dell to take the lead in transition customers over time from Nokia AirFrame servers to Dell PowerEdge servers. Additionally, Nokia will be Dell's preferred private wireless partner for enterprise edge use cases. For those enterprise edge use cases, that means it will be easier to integrate the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud private wireless solution with Dell's edge operations software platform, Dell NativeEdge.
Editor's note: TechRepublic covers MWC 2024 remotely.
