Sci-fi visions of technology-driven futures tend to feature some variation on the theme of extensive communication directly between robots or other human-built, artificial devices or systems. To a certain extent, that future is already here in the form of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.

M2M might sound a bit dull, but for organizations like the CDMA Development Group (CDG), it represents an exciting opportunity to enable the types of products, services and features human users get a lot of utility and enjoyment from.

In a recent TMCnet video interview, CDG’s chief operating officer, James Person, described his organization as the international trade association for cellular networks. It represents operators and manufacturers of 3G technologies like CDMA2000, and their counterparts in the 4G market.

There is an M2M component in cellular networks, and because of this, CDG is working to move the M2M market ahead for verticals like transportation, wireless healthcare and smart grids. 

“Because of interest of our member companies, and the explosion of M2M, we recently launched a special interest group,” Person said. “This is a way for people to join us and focus just on the M2M market in cellular networks.”

For CDG, this is an exciting opportunity to work with new members, and with traditional members in a new capacity. GM’s OnStar is one example. These collaborations have led to other opportunities that weren’t anticipated.

“As an outcropping of that special interest group, we commissioned a company called Harbor Research to do some research on the M2M market,” Person said. “They found there are about 150 million cellular M2M connections this year (2010) and predict that will grow to almost 400 million by 2014.”

Harbor’s other findings are published in a whitepaper on the topic of M2M.

Person noted that Harbor’s predictions about the growth of M2M might be conservative; companies like Ericsson (News - Alert) are predicting 50 billion M2M connections -- through cellular and other technologies -- by 2025.

“M2M is a very interesting market, growing at more than 25 percent a year according to Harbor Research,” Person added. 

Perhaps the biggest challenge growing adoption of M2M is that many people aren’t aware cellular networks are capable of providing this type of connectivity. To raise awareness about the capabilities of M2M, CDG recently launched its DeviceCorner.com website. The site serves as a clearinghouse for manufacturers to post the devices available for M2M, and for operators to post the needs they have for M2M.

“M2M is available, it’s on 3G networks today -- and not just here in the U.S,” Person stressed. “There’s an operator in Europe called KPN (News - Alert) in the Netherlands. They’re using CDMA450 technology to provide smart meters in people’s homes.”

For more about M2M communications capabilities and opportunities, watch the full video interview.