SigFox, the French startup that is building dedicated cellular networks for Internet of Things objects from connected smoke alarms and refrigerators to interactive billboards, traffic systems and factory robots, has announced a big move into the U.S. market. The company said that it would be taking its services into 100 cities, in partnership with unnamed “strategic site owners” around the country, comprising over 230,000 tower, rooftop and billboard sites in all. The move is a sign of how IoT is picking up speed in the market, and how one of the more-watched European startups in the space is hoping to make a …

Google, Verizon and others are partnering with NASA on an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) traffic management scheme. Microsoft has been working with universities on drone-enabled mosquito traps in an effort to stall infectious diseases from spreading. Cisco has shown off drones whose cameras feed into the company’s collaboration technologies. And AT&T, IBM and Intel have all demonstrated advanced drone-based research. All of this activity by enterprise IT vendors in the commercial drone field is a far cry from what was being done -- or at least being publicly discussed -- back in late 2014, when our efforts to get such vendors …

The Smart Card Alliance, a not-for-profit, multi-industry association focused on the adoption and use smart card technology, has formed the Internet of Things Security Council to address growing concerns about the security and privacy of the Internet of Things (IoT). The new alliance will develop and promote best practices and provide educational resources on implementing secure IoT architectures using embedded security and privacy technology. Similar to other Smart Card Alliance councils in areas such as payments, transportation, identity, mobility and healthcare, the Internet of Things Security Council will provide guidance and insights through white papers, briefs, Webinars, seminars, infographics, and …

Passengers on London buses could soon be receiving push notifications with real-time travel updates and in-app ads thanks to "the UK's largest iBeacon experience". A collaboration between mobile marketing company Proxama and Transport for London will allow integration of the beacon system into an app in what they catchily call a "utility-led consumer engagement experience". Beacons are small chips that use Bluetooth to connect to smart devices like phones and tablets to transmit messages or ads, much like a pop-up on a computer. 

True Religion has integrated customer relationship management and clienteling capabilities into its Apple Watch application for store associates, delivering a holistic view of shopper history and loyalty program data when customers walk in the store. Members of True Religion’s loyalty program can opt in to a mobile app that integrates with geo-fencing and in-store beacons to alert associates on the sales floor of their presence via a haptic response on the Apple Watch. As a result, store associates can offer more personalized in-store customer engagements by glancing at the insights that come up on their wrists.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of the first hospitality marketers to leverage 360-degree video in an ad unit that enables consumers to tilt or rotate their smartphones as they are immersed in a virtual visit to the chain's Barbados resort. Hilton has teamed up with Opera Mediaworks and agency partner OMD to roll out the mobile-first campaign, which brings individuals on a virtual vacation to the hotel chain's Barbados property. As more brands begin experimenting with 360-degree video, the hospitality industry is likely to adopt the technology quickly, due to its ability to allow travelers to discover new places, …

If it wasn't already evident that Microsoft is serious about becoming a big player in the Internet of Things, it is now. The tech pioneer has boughtSolair, a company focused on Internet of Things services for businesses -- say, making sure that factory machines are running smoothly. Microsoft isn't divulging exact plans yet, but it expects to fold Solair's tech intoAzure's IoT Suite. You may not witness the fruits of this acquisition first-hand, but don't be surprised if the gadgets you buy arrive sooner and with fewer flaws.

Ask tech industry observers to list the hottest new technologies and you’re likely to hear a consistent chorus of artificial intelligence (AI), neural networks, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) and mobility. Ask them where those technologies will have an impact, on the other hand, and the responses will likely be all over the map. Smartphones, smart cities and intelligent assistants are just a few of the many options you might hear. Ironically, the one answer you probably won’t hear is the category that all of these technologies are either already in or quickly coming to: cars. Today’s automobiles …

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is investing between $250,000 and $500,000 in Bluetooth technology company TrackR to extend the reach of its Alexa virtual assistant, according to a source familiar with the matter. Alexa is the cloud-based system that controls the Amazon Echo, a speaker system launched by Amazon in 2014 that has emerged as a surprise hit. "Alexa" is the name the device responds to when users make requests, such as "turn on radio." Amazon and TrackR declined to comment on the size of the investment. Like Apple Inc's APPL.O Siri and Google's (GOOGL.O) Google Now, Alexa is designed …

Medical equipment and technology firm Philips said on Tuesday it will spin off its lighting division, the world's largest maker of lights, in an initial public offering of shares. CEO Frans van Houten said it was an "historic" decision for Philips, which began as a lighting company in 1891. Analysts have valued the unit as being worth roughly 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion). Philips Lighting has strong positions in the LED market, which now makes up more than half of sales, and sees future growth in networked, programmable LED lights which will make up part of the much-hyped "Internet of Things."