InfoCom performed research on the M2M (Machine-to-Machine) market and revealed that the market has significant growth potential worldwide. The M2M technology enables automatic transmission of data between machines – including vehicles – vending machines or containers via mobile and/or fixed networks.
M2M has become a fast growing and strategically important market for many companies and network operators as it provides new possibilities for services and solutions for various products and processes. Therefore, a larger number of initiatives between different manufacturers as well as solution and network providers aim at developing M2M solutions nationwide and worldwide.
“The M2M technology contributes to improve process efficiency, to support environmentally friendly solutions and to improve productivity,” said a senior analyst at InfoCom in a release. “Therefore, M2M solutions are actually spread in many different sectors, from consumer electronics, to healthcare, remote control and telematics of all kinds.”
Some of the most active players on the M2M market are the large network operators, especially mobile operators, which offer special tariffs, SIM cards and chips, as well as service platforms. M2M is part of their strategy to increase the mobile Internet usage and to develop new business models through new market segments as well as new potential customers. A central part of the strategy of the network operators is to improve the exchange of knowledge between different experts, manufacturers and solution providers and to support providers of M2M solutions, both nationally and internationally.
Besides network operators, other players in the M2M market consist of specialised companies, for instance hardware manufacturers — vendors of SIM cards and chips — as well as software providers and resellers. Most of these companies, especially larger ones, are active worldwide and have subsidies in various countries.
A number of different kinds of players, for instance large manufacturers in other sectors, such as BMW or Continental from the automotive sector, are also active in the development chain of M2M solutions for their own products with specialised M2M vendors.
Recently, InfoCom was in news when the market research firm in its research said that fibre-based broadband and mobile Internet emerge as growth drivers in advanced Taiwanese telecoms market.
Want to learn more about M2M technologies? Then be sure to check out the M2M Evolution conference, collocated with TMC’s (News - Alert) ITEXPO East, taking place Feb 2-4, 2011, in Miami. The M2M Evolution Conference is for those industry professionals interested in capitalizing on a rapidly growing segment of the telecom industry. The M2M Evolution Conference embraces the any-to-any strategy of the Internet today. Co-sponsored by TMC Partner Crossfire Media, it showcases the solutions, and examines the data strategies and technological requirements that enterprises and carriers need to capitalize on a market segment that is estimated to grow to $300 Billion in the year ahead. To register, click here.
Sujata Garud is a TMCnet freelancer with three years of writing/editing experience and two years of market research experience. As an editor she has covered the IT, electronics, banking, pharma, construction, mining and healthcare industries. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Carrie Schmelkin