Sierra Wireless Launches World’s Smallest Cellular Module

“As the market leader in cellular M2M connectivity, we continually strive to expand the boundaries of what is possible for connected devices,” said Didier Dutronc, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Embedded Solutions for Sierra Wireless. “By providing GSM connectivity in a module roughly half the size of competing products, Sierra Wireless is once again breaking new ground in M2M communications and opening new possibilities for connected devices.”

Delivering big things in small packages
Over the past several years, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have launched innovative connected devices and services, equipping everything from industrial equipment, to eBook readers, to cars and vending machines with cellular connectivity. However, bold design ideas have continued to bump up against the size limitations of cellular modules. Now, Sierra Wireless is helping customers extend M2M connectivity to places it has never been before.

The new AirPrime WS6318 provides essential M2M connectivity in a module just 15x18 mm2. As a result, OEM customers can integrate GSM connectivity into smaller and more inconspicuous products. For example, by embedding health monitoring and wireless communication capabilities into a small watch or wristband, a health application provider could extend its service to customers that would be unwilling to wear a bulky monitoring device. In this way, the AirPrime WS6318 opens the door to connected devices that were previously impossible and enables M2M innovators to address markets that otherwise would be out of reach.

Leading the industry in M2M innovation
While Sierra Wireless is widely recognized for the most advanced cellular solutions, the AirPrime WS6318 is designed to serve a different set of requirements, providing M2M connectivity in the smallest, simplest package possible. It provides all the essential cellular features and capabilities that connected devices need, implemented in proven software developed with 15 years’ experience in M2M communications.

Based on this proven track record, global fleet telematics provider Scope Technologies has become an early adopter of the product.

“To meet our customers’ requirements, we need highly reliable, cost-effective connectivity solutions in the smallest possible footprint,” said Friedl Jacobs, Research and Development Director, Scope Technologies. “Sierra Wireless understands exactly what we need for these types of applications and has come to market with the right product at the right time.”

The AirPrime WS6318 is also among the first cellular modules in the industry to use conformal coating technology. Instead of relying on metal shielding to protect chip sets and circuit boards, the module is coated with a protective chemical barrier. By eliminating the need for complex metal enclosures, Sierra Wireless can deliver a much smaller wireless module while fully protecting sensitive electrical components