AT&T and IBM will combine their strengths in cognitive computing and global connectivity to create open standards-based tools on the IBM Cloud to enable developers to more quickly build IoT solutions. AT&T and IBM will combine their strengths in cognitive computing and global connectivity to create open standards-based tools on the IBM Cloud to enable developers to more quickly build IoT solutions.

Open standards-based tools allow developers to improve their skills and avoid the churn of learning new tools.

IBM and AT&T are expanding their investment in open-source based tools, such as Node-Red, and open standards like MQTT, all essential for creating IoT solutions. In addition, developers can now add the power of IBM's Watson cognitive computing and AT&T's IoT Platforms like Flow Designer and M2X, and access to its global network.

AT&T is also working with IBM on a new starter kit to make it easier for developers to get going. Once completed, potential customers will be able to purchase the combined AT&T and IBM technologies in one toolkit for a complete set of IoT tools to start their IoT projects right away.

Developers can now use IBM's open Watson Internet of Things (IoT) Platform and Bluemix services together with AT&T IoT Platforms to gain deeper insights from data collected from connected devices. Multiple Watson APIs and other IBM services, including visual recognition, personality insights, tradeoff analytics and speech/translation, are available.

Watson APIs can be used to analyze unstructured data and provide access to capabilitie, including cognitive computing, machine learning and deep learning approaches.

Developers now have the ability to deploy apps on the IBM Cloud, providing more visibility and understanding into the Internet "things" they connect. The new integration allows AT&T M2X, AT&T Flow Designer and AT&T Control Center to be used with the IBM Watson IoT Platform and Bluemix services available on IBM Cloud. In addition, developers will also have access to 10+ IBM Watson cognitive APIs, OpenWhisk "serverless" computing APIs, and other IBM Bluemix services.

The IBM Watson IoT Platform enables users to connect devices in a security-rich environment and build applications tapping analytics and cognitive services. It uses learnings to better manage the data it collects – a constant improvement cycle.

AT&T Flow Designer is a cloud-based tool. It lets developers create and deploy IoT apps. The solution will be available as-a-service on the IBM Cloud. Developers can use it to make apps supporting connected cities, industrial equipment, cars, homes and health devices.