Sprint (News - Alert) Nextel, a provider of comprehensive wireless and wireline communications services that offer the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users, has been offering its solutions and services in the field of 'Machine-To-Machine' or M2M Communication, helping a wide spectrum of entrepreneurial businesses. The company had introduced its Emerging Solutions Group in October 2009, and has been working with solutions partners to help a growing number of businesses serve customers with M2M innovation.

M2M is a new methodology about connecting people, devices and systems, under which devices 'talk' to each other over wired or wireless connections and share data without direct human intervention. The platform enables a diverse set of devices such as utility meters, signboards, cameras, remote sensors, laptops, appliances and other consumer devices for offering support to a range of new applications.

In the words of Danny Bowman, president at Sprint Integrated Solutions (News - Alert) Group, M2M is shattering conventional notions about what a business can deliver for its customers, such as business opportunities that were once technically infeasible or too capital-intensive are now both doable and profitable in a short period of time. Bowman continued that Sprint's early entry as a provider of comprehensive M2M solutions is already producing results for businesses and their customers, including ingenious applications that make life safer, more productive and more entertaining.

The technology can be leveraged in a number of ways, such as the restaurants can deploy the device-to-device connections for serving diners with digital interaction and easier directions through major airports with digital signage. The M2M platform can also provide other benefits such as rapid emergency alerts in hospitals, entertainment and Wi-Fi access for train passengers, and helping the fans in posting tweets on an NFL stadium scoreboard.

A number of companies and organizations have been deploying M2M solutions from Sprint and its partners, one of which is Alzheimer's Association that is working with strategic partner Omnilink, helping the Association to put remote monitoring M2M technology to work for Alzheimer's patients, Sprint provided Alzheimer's Association with Comfort Zone, known as the first comprehensive location management system designed specifically to give people with Alzheimer's more independence while providing their caregivers options.

Amtrak was a yet another company that leveraged Sprint's M2M solutions to enable its riders on select East and West Coast lines to cruise with an enhanced traveling experience that includes a revolutionary new digital signage offering. This solution provides them breaking news and weather updates, sitcoms and feature films, along with Wi-Fi service to keep them always connected. Sprint offered 3G broadband connectivity for these services, while the applications were provided by the Internet Connectivity Group Inc.

In April 2010, Sprint Nextel (News - Alert) certified AdvanceTec (News - Alert) Industries to market and distribute its in-vehicle AdvanceMobile solution for connection to the Sprint Nextel Nationwide Push-To-Talk Network.