SoftBank, Aeris Establish Joint Venture in Japan for IoT

SoftBank Corp. and Aeris, an Internet of Things (IoT) solution company, have established a joint venture in Japan, known as Aeris Japan K.K., to provide IoT and telematics services globally using the Aeris® IoT solutions platform.

The Aeris IoT solutions platform is a comprehensive, end-to-end and proven set of key technologies that enable enterprises to bring IoT solutions to market quickly, cost-efficiently and with the highest security. The platform consists of AerPort connectivity management platform, AerCloud applications enablement platform, AerCore IoT network and AerVoyance IoT analytics platform. With more than 7.5 million devices under management, Aeris is one of the largest IoT service providers in the world and hundreds of enterprises rely on Aeris every day to power their mission-critical IoT deployments.

Working closely with the SoftBank, Aeris will expand its business in Japan and beyond, including India, Europe and the United States, covering multiple market segments and offering a variety of services ranging from an IoT connectivity platform to IoT application middleware to complete IoT solutions for market segments including telematics in the automotive industry.

Hiroshi Akabori, COO, Aeris Japan, and vice president, SoftBank said, "With the high quality of technology and business platform that Aeris and SoftBank have in IoT domain, we will develop and offer the services through Aeris Japan to meet customers' needs that are growing in its variety and in its quality. By having Aeris as our partner, we are excited to create the world where everything is connected with the offer of best and flexible solutions to multiple business areas.”

Raj Kanaya, CEO, Aeris Japan, and chief marketing officer and managing director, automotive, Aeris, said, "With Aeris Japan, SoftBank and Aeris are collaborating to seize a huge opportunity in the fast-growing Internet of Things and telematics market in Japan. The combination of SoftBank and Aeris offers a compelling value proposition to automotive OEMs and other enterprises that seek to build profitable IoT and telematics businesses. Working closely with SoftBank, we look forward to building Aeris Japan into an IoT market leader.”

Dr. Rishi Bhatnagar, president, Aeris India, said, "Aeris in India is enabling telecom operators and enterprises to jumpstart Internet of Things services through an integrated end-to-end IoT solution that covers key components, such as IoT platform, vertical applications and a robust IoT ecosystem. The cementing of business relationships with Aeris and SoftBank as a joint venture in Japan brings huge possibilities of collaboration in the IoT space on the Indian shores. SoftBank already provides high quality ICT services in India. We see mutual synergies for both the companies here as well and excited to work at the global and local front.”