STMicroelectronics' ST87M01 NB-IoT Module Gains Zephyr RTOS Compatibility

STMicroelectronics has announced that its ST87M01 Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) module family is now supported by the open source Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS) — including full UDP, TCP, HTTP, MQTT, and CoAP connectivity with Wi-Fi or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning options.

"We have […] integrated the ST87M01 [NB-IoT module family] with the widely adopted Zephyr framework," says STMicroelectronics' Massimiliano Brambilla, general manager for the company's multisegment application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and application specific division, of the new compatibility, "which makes this module series accessible within a broad open-source embedded ecosystem for all developers."

Support for the module family, built around offering low-power long-range Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) connectivity in a small footprint, expands across User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections with support for HTTP and MQTT as well as the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) — a UDP-based protocol designed for resource-constrained devices, in particular sensor networks. There's support for positioning via Wi-Fi and GNSS signals, including GPS, and signal strength monitoring via RSSI.

At the same time, STMicro has also announced support for the Onomondo SoftSIM software-based Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) — reducing, the company says, production costs while speeding deployment. "The latest software-based connectivity and SIM-management options for ST87M01 further extend the flexibility of this family for innovators to tackle the next generation of IoT applications," Brambilla claims, with the company also offering in-factor SIM profile provisioning through the SGP.32 standard with support for in-field remote profile management.

More information on the ST87M01 family is available on the STMicro website, with the company showcasing the part and its new features at the VIECon convention in Vienna and Electronica in Munich this week, at Booth B.b110 and C3 101 respectively.