AT&T has given its blessing to u-blox’s SARA-U260 3G module, which has now been declared the world’s smallest module. Measuring only 16mm x 26mm, it is capable of supporting voice calls. But the chip is being aimed squarely at the IoT and M2M markets, and not the handset makers that most consumers would typically associate with 3G.
Cellular maintains a strong position in the M2M ecosystem on the basis of its massive geographic coverage. In most M2M installations, this wide-area coverage is preferential to the data bandwidth of the communication, and so the cellular networks still remain the method of choice for relaying information from a remote sensor to a centralized cloud.
Now that the module has been certified by AT&T, it can be integrated into all manner of M2M devices that require data connections to cloud services, by developers looking to leverage the US cellco’s coverage. Able to use 2G if no 3G connection is available, the types of devices that the U260 might find itself inside include wearables, connected cars and smart meters.
The U260 uses Intel’s XMM 6255 antenna, which Intel claims is the world’s smallest such 3G modem chip. Intel says the unique radio architecture gives the modem exceptional performance in low-signal network coverage areas and in small-sized devices that do not have a full sized antenna.
Using the Intel modem, the u-blox U260 is able to get 5.76Mbps up and 7.2Mbps down, which is ample capacity for the data rates and file sizes associated with M2M and IoT applications. The dual-band frequencies available are UMTS/HSPA at 850/1900MHz, and GSM/EDGE at 850/1900MHz too.
The module supports TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTTP and FTP on the internet side of things with dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6, with eCall and GLONASS for the automotive applications. U-blox has also added its own CellLocate positioning protocol, which uses cellular networks to determine indoor location when satellite connectivity isn’t available.
The U260 has an operating temperature of -40°C to 85°C, and the usual claims of low power consumption. u-blox says an extensive set of regulatory certificates are available for the unit, and all meet the ISO 16750 environmental and electrical conditions compatibility tests.