

Let's ignore three wireless communication technologies that are unsuitable to the majority of IoT applications: Infrared (IR), cellular connectivity, and Near Field Communications (NFC).

What are the best existing technologies for enabling this wireless communication? How can developers of IoT devices and apps design products to be user-friendly? As wireless communication technologies have not quite caught up to the needs in IoT, the answer, unfortunately, is that it's complicated. As these devices become smarter and generate an ever increasing amount of data, the need to be controlled by or communicate with a mobile device presents some difficulties to developers.

One thing these products have in common is that they communicate wirelessly with either a mobile device, the Internet, or both. Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices are increasing in popularity and availability - think Amazon Alexa, smart thermostats & light bulbs, Internet-connected garage door openers, GoPro cameras, and so on.
