Vodafone’s Internet of Things (IoT) business, spun out from the main Vodafone Group in 2024, is focused on connecting and managing global networks of devices across industries.
Smart World
What is Vodafone’s Internet of Things Business and why has it set up an American division?

Vodafone’s Internet of Things (IoT) business, spun out from the main Vodafone Group in 2024, is focused on connecting and managing global networks of devices across industries. From autonomous vehicles to medical implants, the platform allows companies to monitor, control,…

After more than a decade as a niche curiosity, manufacturers say smart rings are finally becoming a mainstream wearable.
Smart World
From niche to mainstream: how smart rings are outshining smartwatches in 2026

Worn by Kim Kardashian, Prince Harry, Lewis Hamilton, and the England men’s football team in Euro 2024, it seems smart rings are finally having a moment in 2026. After more than a decade as a niche curiosity, manufacturers say smart…

Facial recognition technology is increasingly being deployed around the world for a growing range of applications, driven by advances in AI and the falling cost of smart cameras.
Smart World
From trolley to template: The rise of facial recognition technology in British supermarkets

For shoppers frequenting the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Sydenham, south London, over the festive period, there was the usual seasonal battle to pile trolleys high with Christmas treats and manoeuvre them through crowds of families doing the same thing. What few…

Scientists at Northwestern University say they have taken a step towards that goal with a wireless implant that uses light to transmit information directly to the brain, bypassing the body’s natural sensory pathways.
Healthcare
Scientists develop implant that lets the brain ‘feel’ artificial signals

State-of-the-art prosthetic limbs can help amputees to regain the use of their arms and legs – but what if they could be imbued with “feeling”? Scientists at Northwestern University say they have taken a step towards that goal with a…

Nordic Semiconductor is bringing AI intelligence and functionality to the smallest battery-powered IoT devices. With an industry-leading, ultra-low-power Edge AI solution, Nordic accelerates the arrival of a new generation of devices with integrated edge AI intelligence – combining energy efficiency with unmatched ease of use for developers. - nRF54LM20B – New ultra-low-power, large-memory wireless SoC with Axon NPU - Custom Neuton models – ultra-tiny edge AI models - Nordic Edge AI Lab – Development tool, simplifying and accelerating Edge AI development “AI factories train intelligence, but Nordic deploys it – on device, at the edge, where the world happens - said Vegard Wollan, CEO at Nordic Semiconductor. “Edge AI is no longer optional – it’s the only way to deliver safety, privacy, and sustainability at scale. Nordic’s edge AI solution enables millisecond decisions without round-trip latency to the cloud, ensures compliance through local processing, and delivers radically improved battery life for billions of connected devices. This is the new standard for ultra-low-power edge AI and Nordic is defining it.” Next generation nRF54LM20B with Axon NPU In 2023, Nordic acquired Atlazo and its Axon technology. The nRF54LM20B SoC is the first large-memory member of the nRF54L Series, integrating the Axon Neural Processing Unit (NPU), an ultra-efficient AI hardware accelerator, to supercharge demanding Edge AI workloads. Axon delivers up to 7 times faster performance and up to 8 times higher energy efficiency versus competing solutions for tasks such as sound classification, keyword spotting, and image-based detection. The nRF54LM20B SoC pairs the Axon NPU with 2MB NVM, 512KB RAM, a 128MHz Arm Cortex-M33 plus RISC-V coprocessor, high-speed USB, up to 66 GPIOs, and Nordic’s fourth-generation ultra-low-power 2.4GHz radio supporting Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Channel Sounding, Matter over Thread, and more. Industry-leading ultra-tiny Neuton Edge AI models The Neuton models are ultra-tiny, CPU-run edge AI models that are typically under 5KB and up to 10 times smaller, faster, and more efficient than other CPU-run models. Nordic Edge AI Lab helps developers generate custom Neuton models for anomaly detection, activity and gesture recognition, biometric monitoring, and more – delivering privacy-preserving, real-time intelligence on tiny batteries and constrained memory, without cloud dependency. Edge AI becomes a natural part of any new product design With Nordic Edge AI Lab and Neuton models, intelligence moves from concept to reality without complexity. One recent deployment illustrates this: A global supply chain solution upgraded its smart tracking devices with AI models created in Nordic Edge AI Lab effortlessly, enabling detection of real handling events such as shock, shaking, and transportation directly on an nRF54L Series SoC. These AI-driven insights were rolled out across an entire fleet without operational disruption, thanks to Nordic’s nRF Cloud lifecycle services. “With Nordic Edge AI Lab, Neuton models, and the Axon NPU, Nordic makes advanced on-device AI practical for every embedded developer,” said Oyvind Strom, EVP Short-Range BU at Nordic Semiconductor. “Developers get the simplicity to move fast, and the disruptive performance to scale from wearables to industrial sensing – all enabled within Nordic’s trusted ultra-low-power hardware solutions.” As intelligence moves to the Edge, the need for OTA management and deep observability is growing. At the same time, cloud-based lifecycle services remain critical for device management, embedded observability, and location services. Manufacturers increasingly need continuous insight into device performance – not just to improve products in real time, but to meet growing regulatory and customer requirements. Using data from deployed devices enhances features and optimises performance without disrupting the user experience. This ensures connected products can evolve securely and efficiently throughout their lifecycle.
IoT Insights
Nordic Semiconductor simplifies Edge AI for billions of IoT devices

Nordic Semiconductor is bringing AI intelligence and functionality to the smallest battery-powered IoT devices. With an industry-leading, ultra-low-power Edge AI solution, Nordic accelerates the arrival of a new generation of devices with integrated edge AI intelligence – combining energy efficiency…

The Z-Wave Alliance said on 5th January that adoption of its long-range smart home technology was accelerating, as the number of certified Z-Wave Long Range devices available on the market reached 125.
Events
CES 2026: Z-Wave Alliance sees surge in long-range smart home tech

The Z-Wave Alliance said that adoption of its long-range smart home technology is accelerating, as the number of certified Z-Wave Long Range devices available on the market reached 125. Announcing the milestone at the CES technology show in Las Vegas,…

US consumer technology revenues are set to reach $565bn in 2026, underscoring the sector’s resilience despite mounting tariff pressures and a more uncertain economic backdrop, according to new forecasts from the Consumer Technology Association.
Events
US tech industry adapts to economic headwinds as revenues set to rise in 2026

US consumer technology revenues are set to reach $565bn in 2026, underscoring the sector’s resilience despite mounting tariff pressures and a more uncertain economic backdrop, according to new forecasts from the Consumer Technology Association. The trade body said the industry…

Quectel Wireless Solutions has unveiled what it says is the world’s first automotive-grade cellular module built to the 5G-Advanced standard, marking an early move by suppliers to prepare vehicles for the next phase of mobile connectivity.
Transport
Quectel launches first 5G-Advanced automotive module as car connectivity demands rise

Quectel Wireless Solutions has unveiled what it says is the world’s first automotive-grade cellular module built to the 5G-Advanced standard, marking an early move by suppliers to prepare vehicles for the next phase of mobile connectivity. The Chinese IoT module…

DeepSeek has published a paper outlining a more efficient approach to developing AI, illustrating the Chinese artificial intelligence industry’s effort to compete with the likes of OpenAI.
AI
Explainer: what are Manifold-Constrained Hyper-Connections (mHCs) and why will they be important in 2026?

If you haven’t heard of Manifold-Constrained Hyper-Connections — mHC for short — you’re not alone. They sounds complicated, but the idea behind them could be a game-changer for AI in IoT this year. The term comes from Chinese AI giant…

In June 2025, the NFC Forum launched NFC Release 15, fulfilling a core objective of its 2023 five-year roadmap: extending the Operating Volume (OV) for NFC-certified devices and tags from 5mm to 20mm (OV5 ? OV20). This fourfold increase enables new use cases across payments, automotive, transit, and access control.
Smart World
Extended range NFC set to transform payments, automotive, wearables, and transit

The NFC Forum’s launch of NFC Release 15 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of contactless technology, writes Mike McCamon, Executive Director of NFC Forum. By extending the operating range from 5mm to 20mm and introducing Certification Release 15…