Verizon acquires Skyward, aims to manage drone operations, connections
A screen shot of Skyward's drone management software.
Verizon said it has acquired Skyward, a startup focused on drone management.
The acquisition of Skyward, based in Portland, Oregon, will bring tools for drone operations into Verizon's Internet of Things portfolio. Verizon has been investing in IoT tools for the enterprise and its IoT business ended 2016 with nearly $1 billion in revenue.
Also see: The Internet of Things: 10 types of enterprise deployments | The five industries leading the IoT revolution | 16 questions CXOs should ask before starting an IoT project
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Verizon Ventures was already an investor in Skyward.
- Skyward's technology is used for managing drone operations, bolstering safety and cutting costs. Specifically, Skyward's software offers the following:
- Flight tracking and management of flight hours, training, licenses, and forms.
- A system of record for flight logs, insurance policies, regulatory authorizations, and service agreements.
- Maintenance management including scheduling, incidents, location, battery life, and firmware updates.
- Standard processes for international operations.
As for pricing, Skyward charges businesses such as fleet operators and drone operators $250 a month billed annually. That subscription covers one team and has a bevy of features ranging from uploading flights in batches to logs to mobile apps. An enterprise plan covers three teams with custom reporting, but pricing varies.
More: Drone market to hit 3 million units in 2017 with $6 billion in revenue, says Gartner | Smart city drone deployments need security, IT best practices | MIT lets you design your own drones | CNET: Best personal drones of 2017 | TechRepublic: Hover Camera injects AI into mini drone to automatically follow you
Verizon's plan is to combine Skyward's expertise with its Airborne LTE Operations service, which aims to connect wireless drones.
Drones have applications across multiple industries and enterprise software will increasingly have to manage the logistics. In addition, regulations are being formed that should allow drone operators to better scale.
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