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Skkynet’s SkkyHub Powers Becker Mining Demo at MINExpo 2016

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Leading gas monitoring system now IoT-ready, providing access to critical data for operations, maintenance, and management personnnel.

Mississauga, Ontario, September 26, 2016 – Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (“Skkynet”) (OTCQB: SKKY), a global leader in real-time cloud information systems, announces that its SkkyHub™ technology is being used to provide real-time, remote data displays for a Becker Varis SSFM-100 smartsense® Atmospheric and Environmental System demonstration at MINExpo 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Show participants will be able to view live data from the SSFM-100 on a display monitor, as well as securely from their mobile phone browsers over their own cellular connection, in real time.

The SSFM-100 smartsense® monitor provides a lighted display on the sensor itself for a user to read data directly, and it also supports standard industrial data communications protocols like Modbus and OPC.  Connecting in this way to SkkyHub enhances the SSFM-100 by allowing its data to be viewed by any authorized user’s computer or mobile phone, with SkkyHub WebView™.

“Connecting to SkkyHub makes the SSFM-100 IoT-ready,” said Jian Zhao, Engineering Manager – Environment and Safety at Becker Varis.  “Mine managers can monitor the gas levels in the mine from a computer in the office, while ventilation maintenance personnel can see the same data from their smartphones from any location.  Here at our offices, we can also use that data for routine or emergency maintenance on the equipment, as needed.”

“This demonstration is a real-world example of the practical value of the Industrial IoT, and SkkyHub’s implementation of it,” said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet.  “It’s all about putting useful or critical data into the hands of people who need it, on-site or remote, at any level of the organization.”

The smartsense® fixed monitor SSFM-100 with its integrated controller functions as a black box storing critical information such as calibration record, Alarm History and Data Logging for post-accident investigation. The SSFM-100 is an all-in-one package and eliminates the need for complex cables connections and troublesome programming, out of the box the SSFM-100 is the most versatile and hassle free Atmospheric and Environmental System on the market. The SSFM-100 system design has taken into account the requirements of the industry and placed on the security and features into a single compact design but still maintaining the main requirement of reliability / accuracy / low power consumption.

The SkkyHub service allows industrial and embedded systems to securely network live data in real time from any location. It enables bidirectional supervisory control, integration and sharing of data with multiple users, and real-time access to selected data sets in a web browser. The service is capable of handling over 50,000 data changes per second per client, at speeds of just microseconds over Internet latency. Secure by design, it requires no VPN, no open firewall ports, no special programming, and no additional hardware.

About Becker Mining Systems

Becker Mining Systems is a system supplier for mining infrastructure with its headquarters in Friedrichsthal, Germany. With 1,800 employees in every essential mining region, the company, which is completely family-owned, sells its products to the leading mining companies of the world. In addition to Germany, Becker Mining Systems is also represented by its own subsidiaries in France, Poland, Russia, China, South Africa, Australia, the United States, Canada and Chile. Since the middle of the 1980s, Becker Mining Systems has followed a consistent internationalisation strategy and thus countered the receding mining market in its home country.

About Skkynet

Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: SKKY) is a global leader in real-time cloud information systems. The Skkynet Connected Systems platform includes the award-winning SkkyHub™ service, DataHub®, WebView™, and Embedded Toolkit (ETK) software. The platform enables real-time data connectivity for industrial, embedded, and financial systems, with no programming required. Skkynet’s platform is uniquely positioned for the “Internet of Things” and “Industry 4.0” because unlike the traditional approach for networked systems, SkkyHub is secure-by-design. For more information, see http://skkynet.com.

Safe Harbor

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies.  Skkynet assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Skkynet believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Skkynet’s annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

IIoT to Animate the Embedded Systems Industry

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It’s certainly a nice fit.  We would expect the growth of the Internet of Things to have a positive impact on the embedded systems industry.  With the billions of connected devices envisioned, it’s hardly surprising that the amount of computing to be embedded in the “Things” of the IoT would increase.  Perhaps not so obvious is that the Industrial IoT promises to generate a growing percentage of that increase.

After attending the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) in Boston last month, industry expert and ARC Advisory team member Dick Slansky noted in his recent blog, Embedded Systems Industry Focuses on IIoT as the Future of Manufacturing, that “there appeared to be consensus that IoT and the entire notion of smart connected ecosystems was going to drive an industry revival for embedded systems.”

This sentiment echoes a recent study by IC Insights, Internet of Things Boosts Embedded Systems Growth, which states that the “Industrial” share of the $3.9B IoT market in 2014 is forecast to rise from an estimated 29% to 36% of the anticipated $11.5B IoT market in 2018.  Doing the math, that’s a jump from $1.13B to $4.14B in the dollar amount for the Industrial IoT, an almost four-fold increase over four years.

What is behind this?

Summing up Slansky’s analysis, he says that the new, smart factory will rely on smart devices—embedded systems connected to the IIoT. This in itself will give a boost to the embedded systems industry.  Yet the area expected to demand even more embedded systems development is edge computing—the moving of computing resources from the mainframes and PCs in a control room or central office to the sensor and device level, eliminating network traffic and cutting processing time. “Embedded intelligence at the source will become the norm,” said Slansky.

We have talked about edge computing previously, and discussed how the Skkynet Embedded Toolkit (ETK) supports it with a full-featured, built-in scripting language. Adding that capability to secure, bidirectional, connectivity to SkkyHub and DataHub, the ETK smoothly integrates real-time edge computing with the Industrial IoT, for a number of embedded platforms and devices.  For example:

  • It is a Verified Software Add-on for Renesas Synergy, meaning that any network enabled device built on the Renesas Synergy platform can connect, just by adding Skkynet to the application build.
  • It is available as an install package for Red Lion Sixnet® series RAM® cellular RTUs or IndustrialPro® cellular routers, supporting connections to SkkyHub and DataHub.
  • It runs on B+B Spectre 4G LTE cellular / wi-fi router, from B+B SmartWorx, NetComm’s NTC-6200 series of gateways, and the Systech® SysLINK™ M2M Gateway.
  • It has been tested on Raspberry Pi, Arduino, GR-SAKURA, mbed, Lantronix Xport, WiPort, and MatchPort, and a number of other devices.

Value Propositions for Industrial IoT

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A mong all the fanfare and hoopla over the Industrial IoT, the more practical-minded among us quietly but persistently raise the question, “So, where’s the value?” It’s a fair question. The IoT represents a new area of influence for industrial automation. Before embarking on such a venture, it’s good to have some idea what the benefits may be.

As we see it, there are two main parties involved, producers and suppliers, and each of them stands to benefit in their own way:

Producers

By “producers” we mean any company in the industrial sector that produces goods or services, such as manufacturing, energy, oil & gas, chemicals, mining, water & wastewater, transportation, food & beverages, and so on.

OPEX over CAPEX

Traditionally, projects in the industrial sector require large up front capital expenses (CAPEX) and are usually accompanied by long-term commitments. Shifting these costs to operational expenses (OPEX) means that you do not need to justify a large capital expenditure over years of returns. Just like a cup of coffee, you buy it, consume it and when you need more, you buy it again.

The SkkyHub “pay as you go” model cuts costs in this way. There are no long-term commitments and no initial capital investments. Costs are reduced and shifted from high capital expenses to monthly operating expenses, which improves long-term expense planning and looks better on financial statements.

Data as a Service

There is no need for additional IT personnel or extra hardware, no programming and no upgrade headaches. SkkyHub takes care of data connectivity, freeing up customer staff and resources for higher priority tasks, while increasing ROI.

The Efficiency of Big Data

Knowing exactly what is happening at any given time in the system is a useful step that a producer can take towards improving efficiency, enhancing value. Until recently, this kind of analysis was only available to the biggest enterprises. Now SkkyHub provides a cost-effective way to bring the power of big-data collection to even the smallest enterprise. Combined with custom or third-party analytical tools, the real-time data flowing through SkkyHub can power both historical and real-time analysis, boosting KPIs and enabling significant gains in productivity.

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a measure of how efficiently production equipment is being used. In manufacturing, for example, OEE is calculated according to three measures: uptime of production equipment, quantity of output, and quality of finished products. Manual methods and historical data archives give a rough idea of OEE, but according to a recent paper published by the ISA, a much more precise and relevant picture can be drawn by combining real-time operational visibility with real-time analytics. Any drop in production uptime or quantity, or in the quality of finished goods will be noticed immediately, and a fix can be applied on the spot, rather than waiting days, weeks, or months for a report to be generated.

Predictive Maintenance

Today’s engineers and managers recognize the need to shift from reactive to predictive maintenance. Instead of asking “What happened?” or “What’s happening?” they want to be asking “What will happen?” Instead of just putting out fires, management and production staff can use the real-time data provided by SkkyHub for optimization, data mining, and fault prediction.

Suppliers

By “suppliers” we mean companies that supply goods or services to industrial companies, in three broad categories:

  1. Raw Materials Suppliers
  2. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and Equipment Vendors
  3. System Integrators
Raw Materials Suppliers

Connecting to a customer’s process data via the Industrial IoT provides value by giving suppliers a window into the real-time consumption rates of the raw materials they provide. This allows them to offer just-in-time deliveries, and coordinate their production with demand in real time. A well-known business model shows how the lack of communication between suppliers and producers can cause costly shortages and wasteful overruns. If the Industrial IoT is extended further to include customer order data, then the supply-production-delivery chain could be fully coordinated, with minimal waste and maximum profit.

OEMs and Equipment Vendors

Implemented properly, the Industrial IoT provides a way for OEMs and equipment vendors to monitor their tools and machines in real time. As industrial equipment grows increasingly complex, more and more specialized knowledge is required to maintain and keep it running at optimal efficiency. Meanwhile, customers constantly demand higher uptime rates.

The solution is to stay connected 24/7 in real time. This kind of connection provides vendors and manufacturers immediate notification when something goes wrong, and a convenient channel to check settings and tweak configuration. Rather than sending a technician out to the plant, the tech support team can address the problem using the full set of in-house resources. For the big picture over time, with every machine connected, the vendor or manufacturer can collect histories for every unit in the field, and analyze the data over the entire life of the product.

Given the benefits of OPEX over CAPEX, the growing complexity of machinery, and the convenience of remote monitoring and service, the Industrial IoT may well facilitate a trend towards providing equipment as a service. Plant owners pay a monthly leasing fee for the equipment, and tool manufacturers and/or vendors ensure that it is in place and functioning as expected.

System Integrators

System integration companies come in all sizes, from lone entrepreneurial engineers to mid-sized specialty shops to multi-national giants. Each may offer a different range of skills, products, and services. As the Industrial IoT gains traction, system integrators may begin looking for a way to offer such a service that works well.

Skkynet offers revenue sharing opportunities that meet the needs of any size system integrator working with customers in any sector or niche market. Skkynet partners are able to offer their customers a secure end-to-end solution for the Industrial IoT right now―at a fraction of the cost associated with ad-hoc or home-grown solutions. System integrators who can offer value through best of breed technology to enhance customer performance will deepen relationships with existing clients and grow their customer base.

Renesas Electronics Expands Renesas Synergy™ Platform for IoT

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Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the expansion of its Renesas Synergy™ Platform designed to accelerate time to market, reduce total cost of ownership and remove many of the obstacles engineers face when designing devices for the Internet of Things (IoT). Expansion includes launch of the new S124 Group of Synergy Microcontrollers (MCUs) with ultra-low power operating characteristics and precise analog signal acquisition/generation capabilities ideal for sensor applications. In support of these new MCUs is an updated version of the Synergy Software Package (SSP) and the e² studio Integrated Solution Development Environment (ISDE) tool. The SSP and e² studio tool also incorporate further enhancements that address the entire Synergy Platform adding new capabilities for networking, industrial automation, power management and automated configuration to save even more precious time for embedded system developers.

“The Synergy Platform continues to grow in value to both developers and their end-customers,” said Mark Rootz, Marketing Director of Renesas’ Internet of Things BU. “This new S124 Synergy MCU Group is another example of platform growth that brings ARM® Cortex®-M0+ based MCUs to the lower end of the application spectrum while remaining completely scalable and compatible with the companion Cortex®-M4 based Synergy MCU groups above it that we launched last year. Software support for these new S124 MCUs is there by expansion of the SSP enabling customers to quickly and easily migrate between all Synergy MCU groups as their needs change and still be able to re-use existing application code. We continue to evolve all elements of the Synergy Platform and build value as demonstrated here with new MCUs, new software, plus ever-growing tool and partner support for the platform.”

Overall Synergy Platform expansion continues globally with the addition of five new Verified Software Add-on (VSA) products from Europe and Japan to be available on the Synergy Gallery in spring 2016. VSA software from third-parties are verified by Renesas to be SSP-compatible for developers to easily add specialty functions to their Synergy Platform-based projects with confidence. New global VSA partners address specialized functions in the areas of home and industrial automation including Echonet, CANopen, and BACnet, plus secure communications, and cloud services. These US-based VSA products are now fully available on the Synergy Gallery – Cypherbridge Systems SDKPac for Synergy secure IoT and web connectivity including SSL/TLS, Icon Labs for security services including firewall and secure boot, and Skkynet for secure real-time data connectivity, on premise or cloud-based (SaaS).

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Skkynet’s ETK for the Renesas Synergy™ Platform Now Available at No Cost

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Engineers and developers using the Renesas Synergy Platform can now connect their projects to the Industrial IoT quickly, securely, and free of any royalty or development license fees.

Mississauga, Ontario, February 2, 2016 – Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (“Skkynet” or “the Company”) (OTCQB:SKKY), a global leader in real-time cloud information systems, announces that Skkynet’s ETK (Embedded Toolkit) for the Renesas Synergy™ Platform is now available for download from the Renesas Synergy Gallery, as part of the Renesas Synergy Verified Software Add-on (VSA) Program. The ETK is offered by Skkynet free of any royalty or development-license fees, allowing engineers and developers to quickly and securely enable their projects for the IoT, while providing a platform to earn a recurring revenue stream.

“Using the ETK gets Renesas Synergy developers up and running on the IoT right away on a robust, secure, end-to-end system” said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet. “They can send data from their project to our SkkyHub™ service and view their data in a web browser, or link to other devices. They can also connect via the ETK to our DataHub® industrial middleware, and link their project to virtually any in-plant industrial system.”

Last month Renesas announced the mass production of the Renesas Synergy Platform, which is an integration of qualified software, scalable microcontrollers (MCUs), hardware solutions and tools designed to reduce development time, lower the total cost of ownership, and eliminate obstacles that engineers face when developing products for the IoT.  The Renesas Synergy VSA Program was launched as a way to broaden the value of the Synergy Platform and give customers access to specialized software like Skkynet’s ETK that is already verified as compatible with the Synergy Software Package (SSP).

Skkynet’s SkkyHub service allows industrial and embedded systems to securely network live data in real time from any location. It enables bidirectional supervisory control, integration and sharing of data with multiple users, and real-time access to selected data sets in a web browser. The service is capable of handling over 50,000 data changes per second per client, at speeds of just microseconds over Internet latency. Secure by design, it requires no VPN, no open firewall ports, no special programming, and no additional hardware.

Skkynet’s Cogent DataHub industrial middleware solution connects to virtually any industrial system using standard protocols such as OPC, Modbus, TCP, and ODBC to support OPC networking, server-server bridging, aggregation, data logging, redundancy, and web-based HMI.

The ETK, DataHub, and SkkyHub will be demonstrated live by Renesas at ATX West 2016 in Anaheim, California February 9-11, 2016 (Hall B, Booth #4594), as well as at the Nineteenth Annual ARC Industry Forum, “Industry in Transition: Navigating the New Age of Innovation” in Orlando, Florida, February 8-11, 2016, hosted by the Arc Advisory Group.

About Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc.

Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (OTCQB:SKKY) is a global leader in real-time cloud information systems. The Skkynet Connected Systems platform includes the award-winning SkkyHub™ service, DataHub®, WebView™, and embedded toolkit software. The platform enables real-time data connectivity for industrial, embedded, and financial systems, with no programming required. Skkynet’s platform is uniquely positioned for the “Internet of Things” and “Industry 4.0” because unlike the traditional approach for networked systems, SkkyHub is secure-by-design. Customers include Microsoft, Caterpillar, Siemens, Metso, ABB, Honeywell, IBM, GE, Statoil, Goodyear, BASF, E.ON, Bombardier, and the Bank of Canada. For more information, see http://skkynet.com.

Safe Harbor:

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. We assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Renesas Electronics Expands Ground-Breaking IoT Platform with Renesas Synergy™ Software Package

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Renesas Electronics, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced new developments for the Renesas Synergy™ Platform, including the commercial release of the Renesas Synergy Software Package (SSP) version 1.0.0, mass production availability of the S7G2 Renesas Synergy Microcontrollers (MCUs), and availability of the first Verified Software Add-on (VSA) software from VSA Program partners.

Cypherbridge Systems, Icon Labs, and Skkynet, all members of the VSA Program, are the first program members to offer production-ready software for the platform via the Renesas Synergy Gallery, the comprehensive online source for the Renesas Synergy Software.

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