The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most talked about trends in tech and promises to connect a wide range of previously disparate devices in a revolutionary shift that will create massive opportunities for businesses and the public sector. IDC estimates that global IoT spending will reach $1.7 trillion in 2020, and a proliferation of wearable and smart technologies looks to spur a rapid increase in the amount of inter-device communication that will play a big role in the growth of Big Data. However, creating new sensors and machine to machine (M2M) communication is only part of the story.
Click through the slideshow below for a breakdown of the significance and trajectory of the IoT data boom, and how Verizon (VZ -2.17%), AT&T (T 1.84%), Microsoft (MSFT 3.42%), Amazon (AMZN 3.58%), and Cisco (CSCO 2.73%) are shaping what could be the next big thing in tech.