From MultiTech: "TeraNova Selects MultiTech's Dragonfly Cellular Module to Improve Communications for Pursuant Health's Web, Mobile and Health Kiosks"
About Symmetry Electronics
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics, a Division of Braemac, is a global distributor of electronic components and systems. Combining premier components and comprehensive value-added services with an expert in-house engineering team, Symmetry supports engineers in the design, development, and deployment of a broad range of connected technologies.
Exponential Technology Group Member
Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is a proud Exponential Technology Group (XTG) member. A collection of specialty semiconductor distributors and engineering design firms, XTG stands alongside industry leaders TTI Inc., Mouser Electronics, and Sager Electronics. Together, we provide a united global supply chain solution with the shared mission of simplifying engineering, offering affordable technologies, and assisting engineers in accelerating time to market. For more information about XTG, visit www.xponentialgroup.com.
Mounds View, MN – July 10, 2018 – Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of M2M and IoT communication devices, today announced that its MultiTech MultiConnect® DragonflyTM, award-winning embedded cellular SoM's, was selected by Teranova, Pursuant Health’s technology partner, to improve communications for Pursuant’s web, mobile and health kiosks installed in Walmart stores nationwide.
Pursuant’s self-service kiosks provide health assessments, incentive management, coaching and biometric screenings such as blood pressure, pulse and body mass index (BMI), and a patented visual acuity test. Pursuant has deployed about 3,600 kiosks in retail pharmacies and healthcare settings across the country, engaging over 30 million users annually.
The new solution, which integrates the MultiConnect Dragonfly with Webbing, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) has helped to ensure that Pursuant’s kiosks remain online while also introducing better network monitoring capabilities and cost savings.
“We are delighted that Teranova has selected Dragonfly as an integral part of its advanced IoT solution for Pursuant,” said Sara Brown, vice president of marketing for MultiTech. “MultiTech is proud to be an enabler to the delivery of effective and accessible preventive health care screening to citizens nationwide."
The MultiConnect Dragonfly embedded cellular SoM's are fully certified and MNO approved, ready-to-integrate modules that offer developers the functionality of a programmable computing platform with the convenience of an onboard cellular radio all in one compact design. From a software perspective, Dragonfly is compatible with the Arm® MbedTM programming platform allowing for rapid prototyping, development and deployment. With its integrated Cortex®-M4 processor, developers can host their application and have access to a full suite of interfaces for connecting sensors or other remote assets.
"In our relationship that spans almost a decade, we have evolved as Pursuant's technology partner to facilitate and help them achieve their goals from business concept to pilot to deployment," said Natasha Royer Coons, managing director at TeraNova. "In this latest chapter, we were able to leverage MultiTech's advanced IoT technology to provide an even more robust foundation and efficient way for Pursuant to deliver preventive healthcare screenings to millions of people nationwide. We look forward to working with MultiTech on other exciting IoT applications."
As an MVNO with global 4G and LTE network agreements in place, Webbing provides coverage across the top two to three cellular networks in each country on a single “smart” SIM card. At the point of deployment, the SIM will automatically connect to the best network based on signal strength and service quality, and for quite a bit less than working directly with the carriers, too.
The smart SIM monitors quality of service (QoS) and if a failure or network congestion is detected, it reconnects to another network within seconds, thereby providing the high uptime and throughput that Pursuant needs to provide its services.
Prior to integrating the Webbing and MultiConnect Dragonfly solution, Pursuant’s kiosks
were challenged by failing USB modems that were becoming obsolete and not supported by carriers. Additionally maintaining connections for the kiosks became problematic and costly as they often failed, due to relocation or SIM cards that only worked with specific carriers.
“We needed a better and more cost-efficient IoT solution that would minimize offline issues, and we needed it to be self-healing,” explains Eugene Borrowes, director of logistics for Pursuant Health. “With TeraNova’s help, we secured a solution that did that and a lot more, improving and streamlining our operations and setting the stage for further expansion.”
About Symmetry Electronics
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics, a Division of Braemac, is a global distributor of electronic components and systems. Combining premier components and comprehensive value-added services with an expert in-house engineering team, Symmetry supports engineers in the design, development, and deployment of a broad range of connected technologies.
Exponential Technology Group Member
Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is a proud Exponential Technology Group (XTG) member. A collection of specialty semiconductor distributors and engineering design firms, XTG stands alongside industry leaders TTI Inc., Mouser Electronics, and Sager Electronics. Together, we provide a united global supply chain solution with the shared mission of simplifying engineering, offering affordable technologies, and assisting engineers in accelerating time to market. For more information about XTG, visit www.xponentialgroup.com.