SoftBank, Aeris establish joint venture in Japan

NEW DELHI: Japanese internet and telecom conglomerate SoftBank Corp  andUS-based M2M and Internet of Things (IoT) firm Aeris have established a joint venture in Japan, known as Aeris Japan K.K., to provide IoT and telematics services globally using the Aeris IoT solutions platform.

The Aeris IoT solutions platform is a comprehensive, end-to-end and proven set of key technologies that enable enterprises to bring IoT solutions to market quickly, cost-efficiently and with the highest security. The platform consists of AerPort connectivity management platform, AerCloud applications enablement platform, AerCore IoT network and AerVoyance IoT analytics platform. With more than 7.5 million devices under management, Aeris is one of the largest IoT service providers in the world and hundreds of enterprises rely on Aeris every day to power their mission-critical IoT deployments.

Working closely with the SoftBank, Aeris will expand its business in Japan and beyond, including India, Europe and the United States, covering multiple market segments and offering a variety of services ranging from an IoT connectivity platform to IoT application middleware to complete IoT solutions for market segments including telematics in the automotive industry.

Key Highlights/Facts
· Machina Research predicts IoT will account for one quarter of the global 41 million 5G connections in 2024. Japan and Korea will lead the charge and embedded factory-fit connected cars will be the biggest IoT application, according to Machina Research.

· Japan will lead the Asia-Pacific region’s market growth for industrial IoT, which is expected to be worth $54 billion by 2020, according to tech research firm Technavio.

· Aeris offers proven software and innovative IoT capabilities with more than 7.5 million IoT devices under its management and processes more than one billion transactions per day.

· Aeris also delivers end-to-end IoT technology platform, which enables faster time-to-market for enterprises. Security is a priority for Aeris, which offers enterprises and mobile network operators an end-to-end solution ranging from connectivity services to data analytics and applications.

· Aeris offers a comprehensive telematics solution for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) including a full suite of driver, dealer and OEM services.

· Aeris Japan will be headquartered in Higashi-Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo, and led by executives from SoftBank and Aeris including Hiroshi Akabori, COO, and Raj Kanaya, CEO, respectively.

"With the high quality of technology and business platform that Aeris and SoftBank have in IoT domain, we will develop and offer the services through Aeris Japan to meet customers' needs that are growing in its variety and in its quality. By having Aeris as our partner, we are excited to create the world where everything is connected with the offer of best and flexible solutions to multiple business areas," said  Hiroshi Akabori, COO, Aeris Japan, and vice president, SoftBank.

“With Aeris Japan, SoftBank and Aeris are collaborating to seize a huge opportunity in the fast-growing Internet of Things and telematics market in Japan. The combination of SoftBank and Aeris offers a compelling value proposition to automotive OEMs and other enterprises that seek to build profitable IoT and telematics businesses. Working closely with SoftBank, we look forward to building Aeris Japan into an IoT market leader," said ·Raj Kanaya, CEO, Aeris Japan, and chief marketing officer and managing director, automotive, Aeris.

“Aeris in India is enabling telecom operators and enterprises to jumpstart Internet of Things services through an integrated end-to-end IoT solution that covers key components, such as IoT platform, vertical applications and a robust IoT ecosystem. The cementing of business relationships with Aeris and SoftBank as a joint venture in Japan brings huge possibilities of collaboration in the IoT space on the Indian shores. SoftBank already provides high quality ICT services in India. We see mutual synergies for both the companies here as well and excited to work at the global and local front," said · Dr. Rishi Bhatnagar, president, Aeris India.