Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses shareholders during Microsoft Shareholders Meeting December 3,... [+] 2014 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) While Microsoft is spending most of its time this week making sure the launch of Windows 10 goes as smoothly as possible, the Redmond software giant is also making moves into the Internet of Things. On Thursday, Microsoft and startup Jasper announced a partnership to integrate their cloud-based software for customers hooking up everything from cars to oil rigs to vending machines. Jasper sells backend software for companies specifically to manage cellular connections embedded in devices. It's integrating this software with Microsoft's cloud offering, Azure. Microsoft sells an Internet of Things Azure suite, which allows companies to perform big data analytics on how their machines are performing. Integrating these two backend systems will simplify things for customers, said Macario Namie, a vice president of strategy at Jasper. Customers can manage their cellular-connected devices using Jasper's "Control Center" software while also accessing Microsoft's analytics prowess. "Today, we have two different systems. Customers have to move back and forth between two pieces of software to see how their product is performing and managing it on the network," Namie said. "This integration gives a holistic view of a connected product." With this integration, for example, a car maker would be able to manage its customer subscriptions in cellular-connected car, and then also use Microsoft's analytics to see if the car needs maintenance. Jasper has similar partnerships with cloud giants like SAP and Salesforce. Jasper has been around since 2004 -- long before the "Internet of Things" become common parlance among the tech set. Last year, the company was valued at $1 billion in a $50 million investment led by Temasek, an investment fund owned by the Singapore government. It's in the process of prepping for an IPO sometime later this year, where it hopes to raise $150 million and get a multibillion dollar market valuation, according to the Wall Street Journal. A big chunk of Jasper's business is in helping car makers manage all the emerging cellular connections in their latest cars. It counts car makers like Ford, Tesla, Volkswagen, Nissan and General Motors as its customers. Microsoft's cloud products are the biggest source of growth for the company currently. In its most recent quarter, Microsoft reported that its commercial cloud revenue increased 88%, while its consumer business declined 13%. Microsoft's dedicated Internet of Things product for Azure is new for the company since announcing it in March. The integration will be available for customers later this year.
Microsoft is integrating it's software with Jasper's Azure IoT suite. This will allow customers to use Microsoft's control centre software while also accessing Jasper"s analytics prowess.