u-blox is a Swiss company that creates wireless semiconductors and modules for consumer, automotive and industrial markets. It just announced it has released the world’s smallest quad-band LTE Cat M1 module, the u-blox SARA‑R410M.

This will enable remote devices to connect directly to 4G networks, it will faste the rollout of Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, from smart metering to connected healthcare, and from industrial control and monitoring to smart buildings and cities. Manufacturers can deliver future firmware updates over-the-air.

With IoT and M2M devices required to operate for long periods of time on a small battery, the u-blox  includes power‑save mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) that together deliver battery life of up to 10 years. The module also boasts extended range, meaning it can operate within buildings or even basements.