AT&T has launched a new LTE-powered programmable button for businesses. As reported by The Verge, the LTE-M Button follows in the footsteps of Amazon Dash: It’s a physical button that sends a notification to remote location when pressed.
So, how does the AT&T LTE-M Button work exactly? Unlike Amazon Dash, the LTE-M Button is designed for businesses rather than consumers. The telecommunications company says that businesses can program it for their own unique purposes. One potential application for the LTE-M Button is to reorder products — the same function of the Amazon Dash. When a customer runs out of a disposable product offered by a business, he or she can order more by pressing the LTE-M Button. When pressed, the button sends a notification to the business via wireless LTE connectivity, telling the business that the customer wants more of the product.
In addition to simplifying purchases, the AT&T LTE-M Button can be used for generating alerts. Businesses can use them internally, for example, to send and receive alerts between different locations. A construction company can set up a LTE-M Button at its job sites so that workers can notify the office when equipment needs servicing. If a bulldozer isn’t working, the worker can press the LTE-M Button to notify the construction company’s head office. The LTE-M Button is fully programmable, so businesses can use the product for just about any notification- or alert-related application.
AT&T first announced the LTE-M Button in November 2017. Since then, it’s been relatively quiet about this product. But on May 20, 2018, AT&T officially launched the LTE-M Button.
AT&T is selling the LTE-M Button at an introductory price of $29.99 through its website. Once the company has sold 5,000 units, the price will increase to $34.99. AT&T also offers custom black and white labels at no additional charge. For colored custom labels, businesses must pay an additional $1.10 per unit.
Because the LTE-M Button is designed for businesses, however, there’s a minimum required purchase of 500 units. So, even with the introductory price, business owners must still invest nearly $15,000 to get their hands on the LTE-M Button. Considering its near-limitless number of applications, though, the LTE-M Button could be a smart investment for businesses.
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