A new report from Hampleton Partners reveals internet-connected device investment has gathered pace in 2014, attracting a range of key US technology and telecoms companies.
$9.4bn has been invested to buy ‘Internet of Things’ suppliers over the last three years, with around $5bn being invested during the initial nine months of 2014, reported Reuters citing the report.
New acquirers during next year are forecast to include Intel, AT&T, Johnson Controls, Texas Instruments and Juniper Networks.
Venture capitalists have invested over $1bn in start-ups in the sector over the past year, with further investment expected.
It has been anticipated that about 28 billion Internet-connected devices will be online by 2020, projecting the global market value to $7.1trillion, compared to the anticipated $1.9 trillion in last year.
Google’s $3.2bn acquisition of smart-thermostat maker Nest Labs this year and its $1bn investment to acquire Israeli location-mapping service Waze in 2013, topped even the Verizon’s $612m deal for Hughes Telematics in 2012, the report added.
