Machine-to-machine (m2m) technology company Telit Wireless (News - Alert) Solutions has launched a new module featuring wireless M-Bus transfer technology, which the vendor says is ideally suited for smart gas, water, heating or electricity meters.

These smart meters automatically transmit consumption data to the utility companies so they can increase the accuracy and transparency of bills, achieving better customer service and energy efficiency.

According to Telit, its ME50-169 modules are compliant to the latest Wireless M-Bus Standard and are dedicated to metering in the 169MHz band. This band provides better range than 868 or 433MHz.

It is a technology for remote reading of smart meters. The data from the individual meters is later collated and then transferred to utility companies via GSM/GPRS.

In addition, the module is equipped with an embedded low power ATMEL ATX microcontroller. Therefore the modules can be easily integrated into various systems, reducing time to market and project costs. This platform is providing additional features such as OTA SW and a customized solution on demand for network deployment and management.

"The combination of Short Range and cellular capabilities is the key technology for future m2m applications: Companies using Short Range can use the free data transmission via radio frequencies and don't have to buy expensive SIM-cards," says Dominikus Hierl, CMO at Telit Wireless Solutions.

Smart metering is already being successfully used in Italy, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, North America and Australia. In Germany, from 2010 onwards, new buildings are required to be equipped with smart meters, and from 2018 this will apply to all buildings. Also in the UK, the government launched a smart metering project planning to install one million GPRS-connected gas meters until 2020.