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Yes ... I work for Twilio as an IoT SE - there are a lot of great and inexpensive modules that you can use. Stay away from anything 2G/3G as they are being shut down as bands are being reallocated. Also, avoid the "quad band" solutions that are advertised.

I usually buy SIMCom modules from Ali Express. The SIM7000A or G, SIM7070G. The A is usually North American bands, and the G is global bands. There are E versions for Europe. These are CAT-M1 and NB-IoT modules, and I usually use the CAT-M.

NB-IoT is a great idea, but depending on where in the world you are it might not exist. Also, Super SIM does not currently support NB-IoT. We have a different T-Mobile SIM for that. If you really want to go NB-IoT, then the SIM7020{x} is a good module to develop with, or the Quectel BC66.

There are also some great projects now running code directly on the cellular modules. Search github for Wiz-IO. Georgi is brilliant in what he's doing, and supports numerous languages running directly on the Quectel modules.

Nice prototyping board! We've been working on a similar concept at ESProto - http://www.esproto.com/ - and have taken a few steps beyond your board. We've created the ESProto 1, and now the ESProto IoT. Both are being released as open source, and also sold as kits.

The ESProto 1 is designed to support the AI Thinker ESP-12F (FCC Certified) module, and give you space for an optional regulator, and prototyping space on board. We include jumpers and a push button for easily entering programming mode.

The ESProto IoT is our newest prototyping board, and couples the ESP-12F with a 5v Arduino Pro Mini to provide enhanced connectivity for sensors and peripherals, all in the form factor of the Arduino Uno.

Both boards use external USB for programming.

These things are too cool, and too much fun!

Monnit is our first OEM partner on the sensors, but our core focus in the sensor/control integration aspect. If you want to do your own low-level development for these specific sensors for a vertical solution, you could. We're providing a much broader solution and doing a lot of the software implementation work for you.

As for the ship date, Kickstarter is working hard to ensure that we give dates (that we are pushing to beat) that are realistic and do not slip like some projects have.

We do have our own boards in our gateways. Yes, in our initial platform release we are in OEM partnerships with several companies - one of them Monnit for the sensor modules.

Although you can go purchase the Monnit sensors themselves, our IP is in the multiprotocol sensor/control gateway/router technology, and eliminating the need for software developers to understand the lower levels of hardware operation.

This is exactly what we are doing with Wovyn. The issue is that there are numerous standards being used, and we're implementing a wide range of protocols to support the key platforms people are wanting to integrate with. This is exactly the space our IP exists in.

I agree completely ... it's not really interesting when it just goes to twitter. That's why it's designed to talk REST, EventedAPI, and MQTT to other software. The real value begins to grow when more complex rules systems can be applied to larger numbers of sensors, and then integrated with sensor data from your mobile phone, etc.

You leave home ... the security is enabled ... home environment reflects you being "away".

It's when all of this begins to reflect a more "neural" pattern that things get really interesting!