# ICE

The Iopsys Communication Engine - ICE - client is an embedded client software that can be integrated into any device for connection to the cloud, enabling [Internet of Things](/glossary/i/iot). It can be dynamically extended using plugins providing a non service interrupting installation of new applications.

Typical devices are Gateways, Smart Phones, Tablets and Web Cameras but it could be just about anything that should be part of “The Internet of Things”.

All ICE enabled devices connect to a cloud based [XMPP](/glossary/x/xmpp) infrastructure using an encrypted [TCP](/glossary/t/tcp) tunnel.

The client allows for communication to the gateway using the XMPP cloud infrastructure from anywhere at any time through the encrypted TCP tunnel.

The communication works behind any [NAT](/glossary/n/nat) and also provides for file transfers and proxy tunnel communication.