Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 10 | Page 56

COUNTRY FOCUS: PORTUGAL “ VODAFONE IS THE WORLD LEADER IN THIS TECHNOLOGY IN THE BUSINESS SEGMENT AND NOW IT WILL LEVERAGE ITS KNOW-HOW TO ENABLE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE NEXT GLOBAL DIGITAL REVOLUTION. Management of the V by Vodafone range using a single application To back up the launch of this new range of products, tailored to meet the increasingly specific needs of the customer, a SIM card called V-SIM has been developed specifically for the IoT equipment. As well as guaranteeing the connectivity of all the V by Vodafone range of products, it is also compatible with other devices that use Internet of Things technology. The V by Vodafone mobile app was developed to manage V-SIM, making the process to subscribe for and manage all the devices with IoT connections more immediate and faster. As well as guaranteeing a single overview of all the products on a single digital platform, it simplifies the consumer’s life by making it possible to link any IoT device to your Vodafone account, meaning you do not have to subscribe to the respective service for each device used. “The Internet of Things has transformed how companies operate. Now it’s the consumers’ turn to take advantage of this technology. V by Vodafone simplifies the use of a vast array of IoT devices, helping all Portuguese do everyday tasks in a more intelligent way,” said Emanuel Sousa, Private Business Division Director of Vodafone Portugal. It is estimated that there will be more than 370 million IoT electronic devices in the areas where Vodafone operates by 2020 in the consumer market alone. These devices can be linked to one another using the mobile network. Today there are around 50 million such devices. “This exponential growth will lead to a drastic change in how people manage their everyday lives. Vodafone is the world leader in this technology in the business segment and now it will leverage its know- how to enable thousands of consumers to get the most out of the next global digital revolution,” added Sousa. The strategy underpinning the launch of V by Vodafone is a continuation of the work carried out by the business segment in the IoT area. The Vodafone Group is a world leader in the development and implementation of solutions using this technology, having now surpassed 60 million connections. Emanuel Sousa, Private Business Division Director of Vodafone Portugal 56 INTELLIGENTCIO The current V by Vodafone products and services will be boosted with new products in the areas of safety in mobility and localisation by the end of the year. New fields of action will also be addressed, namely ‘smart home’, which will be launched at the same time. Vodafone is not the only Portuguese telecoms provider to have introduced a new enhancement to its technology. The first TV app, developed with children in mind and to accompany them wherever they go, has arrived – the NOS Kids App. Available for Android and iOS and soon on the web, the new NOS app enables thousands of films, series and other children’s contents to be accessed in a secure and user-friendly environment. Now, all children’s contents available from NOS can be found on one www.intelligentcio.com