IBM is collaborating with Cisco to combine its Watson Internet of Things (IoT) technology and business analytics with Cisco’s edge analytics. The goal of the partnership is to allow IoT customers better access to real-time data from the cloud to the edge of the network.

By teaming, Cisco’s edge routers and switches will host Watson’s IoT technology and collect IoT analytics data. That data can then be handed off to the cloud-based network. This will help customers better manage connected devices and gather analytics.

Bell Canada is one of the first customers to use the joint offering. The telecom operator will use it with its LTE network to help customers with remote monitoring applications.

IBM and Cisco say their sales forces will jointly target potential customers with the IoT services. Specifically, the two firms are eying oil rigs, factories, shipping companies, and mines where bandwidth is often lacking, but the data is time-sensitive. “For an oil rig in a remote location or a factory where critical decisions have to be taken immediately, uploading all data to the cloud is not always the best option,” says Harriet Green, general manager of commerce and education for IBM Watson IoT.

The Cisco-IBM partnership is not exclusive. IBM has already been touting other partnerships as a way to gain an advantage in the burgeoning IoT space. The company has already partnered with chipmakers Intel and ARM on IoT services.