AT&T and IBM Align to Offer Developers Access to Tools in IoT Initiative

AT&T and IBM are joining forces on an IoT initiative, combining cognitive computing and global connectivity expertise to create open standards-based tools on the IBM cloud, the companies said Wednesday. The tools will allow developers to improve skills while not having to learn new tools, helping to protect investments businesses have made in IoT solutions, said the companies. The demand for IoT technology is creating demand for skilled IoT developers, they said, citing 2016 VisionMobile data forecasting 10 million active IoT developers by 2020. IBM and AT&T are expanding their commitment and investment in open-source based tools, such as Node-Red and the open MQTT standard, essential for creating IoT solutions, they said. Developers will be able to tap IBM's Watson cognitive computing software and AT&T's IoT Flow Designer and M2X platforms, along with access to its global network, they said. AT&T is also working with IBM on a starter kit to speed up development of IoT projects, they said.