Mobility and confidence go hand in hand. For a senior citizen, having both gives them the ability to live independently at home. For a field technician, having both enables them to focus on the task at hand while knowing they are visible on a remote job site. But loved ones and employers know that mobility carries a risk: What happens if there is an emergency when someone is alone?
In those moments, response speed shapes everything, and in this space, Becklar can change a life. The North American leader in connected safety technology builds solutions that give people an instant connection to assistance.
“The North Star for us is absolute trust in the moment of need,” explained Becklar SVP of Product Management and Hardware Craig Pyle. “Everything else comes after the guarantee that our device works instantly and reliably when someone presses the button."
A business built on complete reliability
To provide this safety net, Becklar relies on the Internet of Things (IoT)—a network of physical devices embedded with sensors and software that connect and exchange data over the internet. These connections ensure that Becklar's wearable devices or mobile app deliver an always-available lifeline.
“Without a solution like ours on hand, we hear about people laying on the floor for hours at a time before help can arrive. We don't want to ever see that happen,” Pyle said.
At the same time, Becklar noticed a growing number of field technicians, utility workers, and others whose work stretched beyond the reach of immediate support. Safety is no longer tied to a fixed location, and had to move with the individual. That shift brought a new set of challenges for Becklar.
The most fundamental was connectivity. Devices had to maintain a constant, reliable link across a range of conditions, from basement apartments and dense urban buildings to rural communities and remote job sites. In many of these environments, connectivity can be difficult to sustain.
Maintaining these reliable, around-the-clock connections is one of the hardest engineering challenges in IoT, and Becklar has to address this complexity while also making the devices user-friendly.
“Devices for emergency use need to be zero friction,” Pyle said. “There’s no room for complex interfaces and any maintenance has to be invisible. This has to be foolproof.”
In addition to the reliability of the device and its connection, managing the lifecycle and connectivity of a device requires significant time and resources. Multiply that by hundreds of thousands of devices, and the burden could quickly become unsustainable.
The North Star for us at Becklar is absolute trust in the moment of need.
Craig Pyle, SVP of Product Management and Hardware, Becklar
An integrated IoT safety stack for a more mobile world
To meet these challenges, Becklar completely reimagined how safety could be delivered in a mobile world. Collaborating with their technology partner of more than a decade, the team built an integrated technology stack that consolidated hardware, connectivity, and response into a single solution. Verizon’s trusted IoT infrastructure directly embeds Verizon APIs into the Becklar IoT platform to automate connection management.
“In IoT, competitive advantage has shifted from individual devices to platform. Your strategy has to evolve to building an integrated stack,” Pyle said. “Network connectivity is a critical element of that stack, and we depend on the Verizon network to give us that reliability.”
That integrated approach comes to life in Becklar’s wearable Belle X and Belle X2 devices. They use chip-down designs and Verizon-certified modules to provide direct one-button access to trained operators who assess the situation and coordinate help.
Once a connection is made, the next challenge is how to respond.
Upwards of 80% of Becklar's calls are non-emergencies, and using AI-driven triage improves call handling. First, the AI assistant asks the caller if they need support. If they don't respond or they use language that indicates they need help, a live operator takes over in less than 10 seconds.
Beyond personal wearable devices, Becklar expanded its portfolio to address workforce safety challenges with an enterprise-grade solution that leverages its expertise in responding to moments that matter. Becklar uses a direct-to-enterprise model to offer clients like Georgia Transmission, Hopics, and Alliance Water a dedicated wearable device, Series X, or a mobile application, Worker Safety Pro. These solutions provide continuous, hands-free tracking and security features—including automated worksite check-ins, fall detection, and immediate SOS triggers. Whether a worker is operating deep indoors or in a remote field area, both platforms ensure rapid emergency response by utilizing a multi-layered location stack. Responders can precisely locate individuals using a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi MAC address mapping for indoor environments, and Verizon’s ThingSpace Coarse Location Services as a reliable cellular fallback when GPS is unavailable.
Powering a 24/7 connection with Verizon
Becklar’s ability to deliver on its promises depends on a 24/7 connection. To achieve this, the company leverages Verizon’s LTE Cat 1 network, giving them a steady “heartbeat” connection for two-way emergency communication.
Verizon’s role has extended well beyond providing that mission-critical signal.
“Verizon is a trusted advisor,” Pyle said. “Their technical teams steered us away from an option that lacked sufficient voice support and toward Cat 1. That one decision has saved us time, resources, and development missteps.”
Operationally, Becklar uses Verizon ThingSpace APIs to simplify management for a massive fleet of devices. Processes like activation, suspension, and troubleshooting can all be automated, removing the need for manual intervention.
This automation enables a “business-in-a-box” model, where devices arrive pre-provisioned and ready to work. It's a critical advantage for Becklar’s growing network of 100+ mPERS dealers.
“Our dealers are the distributors and sales engine for the business,” Pyle said. “To mitigate their expense in acquiring customers and shipping products, we want to make their experience effortless. With Verizon, devices are already connected. Subscribers just charge it and they’re ready to go.”
Security also comes built in. By using a private APN, Becklar ensures sensitive user data is transmitted securely, maintaining the integrity of every connection.
Verizon plays an important role in giving us the connectivity, reliability, and quality of service that differentiates us from competitors.
Craig Pyle, SVP of Product Management and Hardware, Becklar
Accelerating innovation and supporting hypergrowth
Becklar’s long-term partnership with Verizon has been a powerful driver of IoT growth, as they've shifted from reliable connectivity to now managing an increasing number of devices.
“Verizon has been a trusted partner who's always there to answer questions, support us, and help us understand technologies. They helped support the hypergrowth we've had in the business,” Pyle said.
Back when the partnership began, Becklar deployed around 25,000 devices. Today, that number has scaled to over one million active subscribers - the majority of which are on the Verizon network.
“The business has taken off and we've been very fortunate to get to this point,” Pyle said. “Verizon plays an important role in giving us the connectivity, reliability, and quality of service that differentiates us from competitors.”
Verizon has supported continuous innovation alongside Becklar’s growth. Migrating to eDRX, a network technology that allows devices to conserve power, the company extended battery life by more than 2x. For users, that means less charging time and increased protection.
Dealer confidence has also improved. Verizon-connected devices have the lowest return rates in the field, and they trust the network to protect their margins and their subscribers. By reducing subscriber churn, Becklar has made it easier for dealers to deploy their solutions at scale.
“We have dealers asking for service with Verizon by name because of the reliability, trust, and connectivity success they have,” Pyle said.
A partnership that fuels the shift from reactive to proactive
The partnership continues to unlock value for Becklar. With guidance from Verizon, the company is transitioning to the latest LTE Cat 1 bis technology, supporting more efficient device design with no drop in quality.
“We’re working with dealers to bring our hardware cost as low as possible while maintaining the quality they need. We want to make it easier for them to scale their business through purchasing our devices, and that's what Cat 1 bis will help us achieve,” Pyle said.
Becklar continues to refine its technology roadmap with information from Verizon on the latest technology developments that can help support key decisions, helping accelerate development and avoid costly missteps.
“With AI moving so fast, we plan to move from reactive to proactive, or even predictive, monitoring. Our partnership with Verizon—and understanding of what the network can provide—will be key in helping us keep ahead of the competition.”
Verizon is a trusted advisor. Their technical teams steered us away from an option that lacked sufficient voice support and toward Cat 1. That one decision has saved us time, resources, and development missteps.
Craig Pyle, SVP of Product Management and Hardware, Becklar