Demonstrating its commitment to help bring the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) into life, Ultra Mobile is officially unveiling its Ultra IoT Connected Lab program. The focus of this project is to encourage accelerated development, particularly in the creation of IoT-related solutions for both end users and business establishments.
In its official release, Ultra Mobile mentioned that spending related to IoT is expected to grow to $1.4 trillion four years from now (per numbers provided by NFC World). The mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) also pointed out that it looking forward to becoming a reliable service provider in the field of Iot, especially with a tenth of all gadgets (not only smartphones and tablet devices) predicted by industry watchers to require cellular connectivity as we head into a new decade.
The Ultra IoT Connected Lab should serve as a good venue for Ultra Mobile to explore new IoT-related solutions. And it is already looking to kick things off with its first initiative, which is an incubator program that should, in a span of 10 weeks, become a launchpad for an IoT startup to develop a bespoke portal designed for its specific IoT needs.
Collaboration is one of the central ideas of the Ultra IoT Connected Lab. By joining forces with those who participate in the program, Ultra Mobile is aiming, among many other things, to determine the potential obstacles that will likely be encountered in developing solutions for IoT, and of course, find workarounds for those obstacles.
For those interested in signing up for the 10-week incubator program, know that they can apply until September 26th only. The winner will be announced on September 29th, and the program itself will run thereafter (from October 2nd to December 8th of this year). The victor will also receive $20,000 of US connectivity services, as well as the use of office space in New York City or Orange County in Southern California for 10 weeks. Other perks include a customized Minimum Viable Product (MVP) portal with 6 months of iterations, industry-recognized mentors, and admission at the IoT Tech Expo in Santa Clara (with $2,000 for travel costs).
Picking the applicants for the program will not be easy, and Ultra Mobile has assembled a panel of judges coming from the media, advertising, and business sectors. Among the notable names include Tom Kelshaw (from media agency Maxus), Yao Huang (from venture collaborator The Hatchery), Katja Bartholmess (of marketing consultancy Gimme Gorgeous), and Ultra Mobile’s own Sarah Neill.
Operating for about six years now, Ultra Mobile is a nationwide wireless operator offering mobile plans with voice, text, and data inclusions. The company also offers international mobile services to more than 200 countries outside the United States. Although its headquarters are located in New York City and Southern California, the carrier employs over 150 staff not only in America, but also in Europe and Asia. To browse its services, you can visit its official website here.
