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IoT has too many platforms, says IoT platform startup

Octoblu pitches management / comms platform

Yet another startup wants to take over the business of connecting your Internet of Things devices.

Octoblu, which has “emerged” from “stealth mode” (if you don't count Tweets about its financing in May, or its joining the AllSeen Alliance in June) is pitching an open-source platform called Meshblu that connects devices with or without IP addresses.

The software supports MQTT (message queuing telemetry transport) and COAP (constrained application protocol) messaging, providing communications with a range of devices it says includes “smart devices, sensors, cloud resources, drones, Arduinos and Raspberri Pis”.

Communications are secured by the Meshblu platform, which issues a 36-character device ID and token for each device connecting to the network. Other current and planned components include a device directory with API and presence support; gateway software for Mac, Windows and Linux; an OS for Arduino; and modules for node.js, Javascript and Python.

“Cloud-to-cloud message routing” in the system let the “private cloud” (that is, your home network of devices) to the Meshblu cloud.

The outfit says its aim is to break down the emergent tendency of the IoT to Balkanise into silos: not only is there a variety of physical layer connections to deal with (WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, 802.15.4 and the rest), but the upper layers are also the battleground of competing vendors.

Just how well Octoblu fulfils its mission will have to wait a little while. While some of its code has landed on github (such as the Gateblu gateway), the complete platform is expected in Q3.

It has demonstrations of its Octoblu and Nodeblu software for Chrome here. ®

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