Omate selects Tata Communications to launch its Omate x Nanoblock smartwatch for children with instant, secure, global connectivity
London, UK, February 13, 2018
Tata Communications, a leading digital infrastructure provider, and wearables maker Omate are working together to equip the new Omate x Nanoblock children’s smartwatch with instant, secure, global connectivity straight out of the box. With a Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ SIM built in, the Omate x Nanoblock will pave the way towards a new frontier of digital parenting. There will be a demo of Omate x Nanoblock at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona: Tata Communications’ booth – Hall 2 H30.
The Omate x Nanoblock comes with 3G connectivity thanks to a built-in Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ SIM card. It triangulates location using GPS, cellular networks and Wi-Fi hotspots for accurate positioning. It features a limited edition wristband by Japanese toy manufacturer Diablock.
Smartwatches such as the Omate x Nanoblock help parents stay connected with their children and know exactly where they are when needed – providing invaluable peace of mind. This peace of mind is now reinforced in the Omate x Nanoblock because Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ carries all location, messaging and video calling data over an end-to-end encrypted virtual private network (VPN), ensuring maximum security.
“Given the growing threat of cyber-crime, any device or application aimed at children must be safeguarded with the highest levels of security,” said Laurent Le Pen, Founder & CEO, Omate. “What sets the Omate x Nanoblock apart from other children’s smartwatches is the extra security layer provided by the global private network of Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™. It means that parents can keep track of and in touch with their kids in real-time, but no data on the network can be intercepted by unscrupulous individuals.”
Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ harnesses Tata Communications’ relationships with more than 600 mobile network operators (MNO) around the world to bring the Omate x Nanoblock reliable, high-quality network connectivity anywhere in the world. These relationships also help accelerate Omate’s international expansion outside its home market in China, allowing the company to sell the smartwatch to retailers and other partners as a ‘wearable-as-a-service’, eliminating the need for separate data connectivity agreements with different local MNOs in each country.
“The immense transformational potential of the Internet of Things hasn’t been unlocked yet because the mobile networks which these applications depend on are inherently local,” said Anthony Bartolo, Chief Product Officer, Tata Communications. “Yet, businesses like Omate that want to reach customers worldwide, need truly global, borderless connectivity to power their IoT devices and applications. They can’t be constrained by local MNOs’ roaming policies. Through our partnerships and the ubiquitous network of Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™, businesses are able to capture, move and manage information on a global scale, and give people the always-connected digital experiences they crave.”
The API-enabled, automated Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ platform is fully integrated with Omate’s business processes, giving the company real-time visibility over customers’ data usage patterns, and control over tariffs and billing. This means that when a new customer switches on the smartwatch for the first time, it is instantly connected. The software-defined capabilities of Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ also make it easy for Omate to customise features and content with children’s needs in mind.
Laurent Le Pen continued: “The completely automated subscriber and connectivity management capabilities of Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ allow us to focus on our core business of developing innovative, feature-rich smartwatches for consumers everywhere. As we set our sights on taking on some of the biggest consumer electronics manufacturers in the world, working with Tata Communications gives us the global reach we need to help drive the growth of our business across Asia, Europe and the Americas.”
The Omate x Nanoblock will be available for pre-order in April on www.omate.com and will start shipping in June 2018 exclusively in the US and in Europe.
Tata Communications MOVE™ is part of the company’s aim of creating truly global, borderless mobile experiences for people and things. It is underpinned by Tata Communications’ partnerships in the world’s mobile ecosystem and its global network, which today connects 4 out of 5 mobile subscribers and carries over 25% of the world’s Internet routes.
Omate x Nanoblock key features
- Two-way voice chat services
- Location based services to locate the watch via an app
- SOS alert from the watch
- Pedometer
- Alarm
- Stopwatch
- 3-day battery life
- Front selfie camera
- Photo gallery
- SIM card with 100mb data/month
- Exclusive Nanoblock straps
- Magnetic charger with USB data transfer
- Two colours: white and black
- Starting from $179 including 1 year data plan.
| Kersti Klami Tata Communications +44 207 029 9742 kersti,klami@tatacommunications.com | Joe McNamara Hill & Knowlton Strategies +44 207 413 3230 joe.mcnamara@hkstrategies.com |