S+ Camera is now compatible with Soracom Arc, enabling S+ Camera devices (excluding S+ Camera Basic) to communicate with the Soracom platform via Wi-Fi.

While S+ Camera devices have supported Wi-Fi communication, connecting to the Soracom platform, such as to store analysis data in Soracom Harvest and to build visualizations in Soracom Lagoon, was possible only with the cellular connection.

With this update, S+ Camera devices can now connect to the Soracom platform using Wi-Fi. By using Wi-Fi, large amounts of data can be sent and received at a lower cost. Moreover, compatible S+ Cameras can also be installed in locations where cellular coverage is poor.

For details on how to enable Soracom Arc and configure the communication path, please refer to the Soracom Arc: Switching the Communication Path (Japanese) documentation.

We are pleased to announce the addition of a dashboard to the User Console, as well as dark mode support.

Dashboard

The User Console now features a Dashboard page that displays various information about Soracom account and service usage. This page will give you an at-a-glance overview of your account, such as:

• Your current billing information as well as billing history from the past 2 months
• A summary of the total number of SIMs in your account and number of SIMs by each SIM status
• A summary of the number of Virtual Private Gateways (VPGs) in your account
• Your account information, such as Operator ID, email, etc.
• Information about the latest updates to the Soracom platform and product or service updates

The Dashboard page will be displayed automatically when logging into your account.

Dark Mode

The User Console now also features a dark theme. To turn dark mode on or off, simply click the toggle switch located on the right hand side of the User Console.

Soracom is excited to announce the launch of Satellite Messaging, a satellite-based message communication service.

Satellite Messaging allows devices to communicate in areas where cellular connectivity and other communication methods are not available. This service is currently available as a Technology Preview.

For additional details and instructions on how to apply for this Technology Preview, please visit Satellite Messaging (technology preview) (Japanese).

We are pleased to announce that the planX1 subscription can now be used to connect to the Docomo network in Japan, in addition to the coverage provided by KDDI and SoftBank.

In order to enable Docomo coverage for your planX1 SIMs, please contact us. Please refer to SORACOM IoT SIM Fees (Japanese) for additional usage fee details.

When purchasing a S+ Camera Series device, the SIM that is pre-installed in the device will be changed from the plan-D (no data bundle) IoT SIM for Japan to the plan-D D-300MB (300MB data bundle) IoT SIM for Japan.

Please refer to the following pages for additional details about plan-D D-300MB fees.

• Usage Fees - plan-D D-300MB IoT SIM for Japan
• Usage Fees - plan-D IoT SIM for Japan

If you purchased a S+ Camera device prior to June 30, 2022, your device will include a plan-D (no data bundle) IoT SIM. You may optionally change your existing plan-D (no data bundle) IoT SIM to the plan-D D-300MB bundle. For instructions, please refer to the Changing the IoT SIM bundle (Japanese) instructions.

We are pleased to announce that plan01s and plan01s Low Data Volume coverage now includes Uruguay.

In addition, LTE connectivity is now available for plan01s and plan01s Low Data Volume in the following countries:

• Georgia
• Jersey
• Qatar

For complete details about data rates, supported carriers, and coverage in other countries, please refer to the Supported Carriers documentation.

The IoT Wireless Unit Multi Converter Starter Kit by OPTEX Company, Limited is now available from the Soracom IoT Store.

This kit includes the IoT Wireless Unit Multi Converter OWU-310M, a battery-powered IoT gateway that can operate for approximately 10 years (when transmitting data twice a day). It does not require an external power supply and is IPX5 waterproof, making it suitable for outdoors installation as-is.

The IoT Wireless Unit Multi Converter Starter Kit includes a plan-D D-300MB IoT SIM for Japan.

IoT Wireless Unit Multi Converter Starter Kit

• Availability: Japan only
• Price: 107,800 yen (tax included, bundled with a 2,000 yen Soracom platform coupon)

Starter Kit contents:

• IoT Wireless Unit Multi Converter OWU-310M
• Dedicated battery for OWU-300M series, OWU-Battery300
• Soracom IoT SIM for Japan (plan-D D-300MB, nano size, data communication only)

For more information, please refer to the product page (Japanese).

Pricing calculator is the tool to calculate the estimated costs for IoT SIMs, devices and services for Japan coverage.

We have redesigned the pricing calculator to be easier to use, and estimate previews are now more detailed.

In addition, the following services are now supported:

• SORACOM Harvest Files
• SORACOM Inventory
• SORACOM Mosaic
• SORACOM Cloud Camera Services
• Priority support plan

For more details, please visit create estimate (Japanese).

When using Area Alert (Intrusion Detection Alert for Prohibited Areas), which is part of "Package20™, the coordinates of the area to be detected must be specified in the algorithm parameters (environment variables).

With this newly released coordinate editing feature, the coordinates can now be obtained in JSON format by drawing a line or rectangle while checking the camera image taken by S+ Camera. The way in which the coordinates specified in the algorithm parameters (environment variables) are handled depends on the algorithm. Currently, only Area Alert (Intrusion Detection Alert for Prohibited Areas) supports the coordinates, but you may also use your own algorithm. Please give it a try!

For more information, see pass coordinates on camera image to algorithm. (Japanese)

When purchasing SIMs from the Soracom IoT Store or through the User Console, SIMs will be pre-registered to your account. If you need to transfer the registration of a SIM to a different Soracom account, you can initiate a SIM transfer request directly from the User Console. However, this function is only available for SIMs that are still in the Ready status.

In order for customers to transfer SIMs that are in the Active, Inactive, Standby, or Suspended status, Soracom is now accepting SIM transfer requests. Upon receiving a request, Soracom will handle the process of transferring SIMs on your behalf.

Please note that the SIM transfer process will incur a processing fee. In addition, please be aware of the following conditions when requesting a SIM transfer:

• The account where the SIMs are currently registered and the account where the SIMs will be transferred to must be registered in the same country. SIMs cannot be transferred between accounts that are registered in different countries.
• SIM transfer requests must be initiated by the account where the SIMs are currently registered.
• Soracom will verify that the account where the SIMs will be transferred to has a valid payment method registered. If the account does not have a valid payment method, SIMs will not be transferred.
• Soracom will then send a confirmation email to the primary email address of the account that you want to transfer SIMs to in order to approve the transfer request. If confirmation is not completed, SIMs will not be transferred.
• If the confirmation is completed before the 20th of a given month, the SIM transfer will occur at the beginning of the next month. If the confirmation is completed on or after the 20th of a given month, the SIM transfer will occur one month later at the beginning of the following month.
• During the transfer, the following SIM settings will be preserved: Tags, Expiration settings, and IMEI Lock settings.
• During the transfer, the following SIM settings will not be preserved: Speed Class settings, Event Handler settings, and Group settings.
  • However, if you know the Group ID of a group belonging to the account where the SIMs will be transferred to, you may specify it in the SIM transfer request, and each SIM's Group setting will be set accordingly during the transfer.
• Once SIMs have been transferred, any existing data sessions will be deleted automatically. If your device is not configured to automatically create a new data session, you may need to restart or reboot your device.

You may submit a SIM transfer request at any time by logging into the User Console, accessing the Support > Contact Us menu, and submitting a new support request ticket.

Customers may continue to transfer Ready status SIMs at no additional charge directly from the User Console.