With staff comprising former members of Google, Apple, and Nest, and led by Joe Britt, the co-founder of Danger (which Microsoft acquired for $500m as part of its abortive mobile strategy), new startup Afero has emerged from stealth mode to launch a new hardware-plus-software IoT developer platform. Joining an increasingly crowded market, Afero hopes to distinguish itself by offering an integrated platform that combines a Bluetooth Smart module and the cloud-based software and RESTful APIs that build applications and customer management systems. It has announced public availability, and partnerships with Murata, Infocom, and Bandai. Bandai is one of the largest makers of toys and kid’s gadgets, while Infocom positions itself as a leader in healthcare IT systems and operation management…