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Qualcomm Life, a division of Qualcomm, has unveiled 2net Mobile, a version of its remote-monitoring cloud platform that allows patients to transmit data from medical sensors to mobile devices.
The 2net Mobile software module will allow Android 4.x and higher devices such as smartphones and tablets to act as a gateway like that of the 2net Hub, according to Qualcomm, which unveiled 2net Mobile on Sept. 4 at the Uplinq 2013 developer conference in San Diego. The 2net Hub is a gateway that offers short-range flexibility and data transfer for machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity for patients to transmit readings to their doctors while at home or on the go. Physicians can then monitor patients’ conditions.
Data connectivity on 2net Mobile runs across various device types, radio technology, operating systems and sensors, Rick Valencia, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Life, told eWEEK in an email.
“Our objective with the launch of 2net Mobile is to further support our ecosystem collaborators’ and enterprise customers’ business strategies in mobile disease management and wellness, while enhancing the ability to innovate on the 2net Platform,” Valencia wrote. “Depending on the type of sensors and type of users targeted by the ecosystem members, they will now be able to offer the 2net Hub and/or 2net Mobile that are best suited for their users.”
The 2net Mobile software module includes a mobile core to communicate with biometric sensors and share data with a 2net mobile application.
In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed the 2net Mobile Core as a Class 1 medical device and data system (MDDS), according to Qualcomm. Under the FDA’s guidelines, manufacturers of Class 1 medical devices must register hardware and software that transfer, store, convert or display health care data.
As part of the 2net Mobile platform, Qualcomm will allow developers to use the 2net Mobile SDK to commercialize 2net managed services. “Developers can leverage the 2net Mobile SDK to build services on top of the software module and to embed the 2net Mobile Core into their application to seamlessly connect to the open Qualcomm Life Platform device library,” Valencia said.
Developers would need their own regulatory certifications to develop apps using 2net Mobile SDK, he added.
The 2net Hub supports devices such as weight scales or blood pressure monitors that are stationary within the home, while the mobile platform supports more complex devices such as blood glucose meters, inhalers, diagnostic devices and activity monitors, Qualcomm reported.
Remote monitoring platforms such as 2net could also aid doctors as they collaborate with other physicians as part of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Under the Medicare Shared Savings Program, ACOs would allow doctors to gain incentives for patient outcomes, which they’d be able to keep track of through remote monitoring.
The platform supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communication and is compatible with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), according to Qualcomm.
The company launched the 2net cloud platform in December 2011, when it formed its Qualcomm Life health care subsidiary.
“Qualcomm Life is focused on device connectivity and data management and empowering medical device manufacturers to deliver wireless health quickly and easily to those who need it,” Valencia wrote. “2net Mobile expands upon the 2net Platform’s capabilities to mobile devices, enabling consumers to seamlessly and securely monitor and manage their health information anytime, anywhere.”