Carrier, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electrical appliances and equipment, will be building “Internet of Things” (IoT) network intelligence into its product line. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp.’s (UTC) Climate, Controls & Security group. A new Carrier, AT&T IoT deal calls for AT&T wireless connectivity to be added to commercial HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling) with Carrier SMART Service.
Wireless connectivity to AT&T’s network is expected to enhance Carrier Smart Service’s remote equipment monitoring, data collection and analytics capabilities, according to an AT&T news release. That, in turn, is expected to reduce calls on Carrier field service technicians to travel to customer sites to make repairs, which, over time, should result in lower overall costs.
Carrier SMART Service is available for its AquaEdge® water-cooled chillers with product integrated in the U.S. The data collected from Carrier SMART Service chillers via AT&T’s IoT technology offers detailed insights into status and operating conditions. Depending on specific data, Carrier SMART Service can then provide recommendations to do with servicing, repairs or system modifications. Facilities managers will thereby be able to make more informed, up to the minute maintenance and service decisions, the companies highlight.
The AT&T Global SIM card and IoT Services, such as Control Center, provide near real-time access to data gathered by wireless network sensors built into Carrier’s SMART Service chillers.
Carrier, AT&T IoT Deal
In addition to providing integrated product controls, SMART Service is also portable. That allows facility managers and building owners to make use of the technology as they need to and and where they need to on a temporary basis, according to the company.
AT&T highlights three major, expected benefits to Carrier customers:
- Early detection of an issue. This means faster resolution.
- Better energy management. This improves ownership costs.
- Proactive maintenance. This corrects minor problems before they lead to more complex and expensive repairs.
“IoT solutions offer enhanced visibility and awareness, which can be a huge benefit for businesses. Our work with Carrier will provide valuable insights that can help strengthen their customer relationships,” said Joe Mosele, AT&T VP, Internet of Things Solutions in a press release.
Just last week, AT&T said its LTE-M IoT network will be available nationwide by the end of second quarter. That’s ahead of schedule, the company said. The news follows successful testing with a pilot network launched in California in October. Since then AT&T has added an additional testing site in Columbus, Ohio.
