Dima Feldman is responsible for overseeing product management, marketing strategies and solution architecture at Sony Semiconductor (formerly Altair Semiconductor), a provider of cellular IoT chipsets and AI for image sensing.
Last month Sony, in partnership with Soracom, Kigen, Murata, and Quectel, released its next-generation iSIM which, it claims, represents a “significant step in IoT progress”.
What’s an integrated SIM? Is it better than an eSIM?
An integrated SIM (iSIM) is essentially a SIM function built directly into the modem-based chip. This has two advantages. Firstly, it eliminates the need for extra components on the device’s main board, effectively driving down costs.
Second, it streamlines the onboarding process for the end user, as there is no need to acquire additional eSIM components separately. This feature particularly enhances flexibility as it permits customers to finalise their service provider choices even at a late production stage.
When it comes to a comparative analysis with eSIM, iSIM offers distinct advantages such as lower power consumption, reduced cost, and simplified operational requirements, making it generally more efficient.
Why does Sony’s iSIM represent an important milestone for the IoT sector?
ISIMs will play a transformative role in the IoT sector by essentially removing hurdles to widespread adoption. It lowers the overall cost of IoT solutions and also simplifies the onboarding process for device makers, and so accelerating the rate of market entry for new IoT applications.
In the long term, as we continually refine the technology, we expect to see even lower power consumption, which will be particularly beneficial to industries that require long-lasting, efficient solutions.
What kind of IoT deployments/ use cases are likely to benefit from iSIM technology?
Looking ahead, we envision that iSIM technology will become a staple in the vast majority of IoT devices. As of now, asset-tracking systems are early adopters, likely due to their more innovative orientation compared to other sectors within the IoT landscape.
If you were awarded a grant of €500,000 tomorrow, how would you spend it and why?
I would allocate the funds primarily toward making the customer onboarding process even more seamless than it currently is. The logic behind this is simple: the easier it is for customers to adopt the technology, the faster we can achieve widespread market penetration.
Besides caffeine, how do you recharge your batteries during the working day?
While it’s nearly impossible to completely disengage from work, mastering the art of work-life balance is crucial. This involves knowing when to step away from the computer and emails.
How do you switch off from work completely?
In my downtime, I find solace in outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking, exploring my interest in photography, and, most importantly, spending quality time with my family. For me, taking time off for a well-deserved vacation with my family is the perfect recharge.
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