MobileCON Packed with M2M Innovation

10/11/2012

M2M (machine-to-machine) technology was in the spotlight at this week’s MobileCON show by CTIA, held in San Diego October 9-11. The show focused on mobile technology for IT and enterprise users, and there were many announcements that underscored the importance of connected solutions for business users. 

For example, Symantec Corp., www.symantec.com, announced two new programs aimed at helping businesses gain more value from their mobility solutions. The App Center Ready Program and the Mobility Solution Specialization Program are both designed to improve the productivity benefits of mobility. Today, businesses are increasingly supplying employees with devices like smartphones and tablets, or employing a BYOD (bring-your-own-device) system that allows workers to use personal devices for business purposes.

According to Symantec, App Center Ready will help developers to quickly build enterprise apps. It allows developers to embed Symantec’s security and management features, including encryption, authentication, data loss prevention policies, app distribution, and revocation, into apps without changing their source code. The solutions can then be deployed for both iOS and Android devices.


The Mobility Solution Specialization Program allows channel partners to offer Symantec’s enterprise mobility products to their customers.

When deploying an M2M solution, connectivity is a key concern. Satellite connectivity is a way to ensure coverage in remote areas, but it’s also becoming a more widespread solution that is useful for industries such as energy, finance, and maritime. At MobileCON, satellite connectivity provider Inmarsat, www.inmarsat.com, announced a deepened interest in the M2M space.

Inmarsat provides devices and value-added services for remote monitoring and data collection, and the company launched its flagship service, BGAN M2M, in February of this year.

Another M2M company expanding its services is Wyless, www.wyless.com. The managed services provider announced a deeper relationship with Deutsche Telekom, www.telekom.com, through its inclusion on the Deutsche Telekom M2M Partner Portal, a service designed to provide M2M companies worldwide a central point of contact for networking. The move expands on Wyless’ previous partnership with Deutsche Telekom as a member of the Deutsche Telekom M2M Competence Center. Wyless also announced a distribution agreement with Encore Networks, www.encorenetworks.com, at MobileCON. Wyless will offer Encore’s family of routers for a range of cellular M2M applications.

Connectivity is key for M2M, and one M2M communications provider announced at MobileCON that it will receive a major investment. RACO Wireless, www.racowireless.com, will gain financial backing from Inverness Graham Investments, a private equity firm based in suburban Philadelphia that announced the controlled recapitalization of RACO Wireless.

RACO says the move positions it to take advantage of the growing M2M market and that this deal is the first step in a larger strategy to becoming the leader in M2M wireless enablement. Following the deal, the RACO leadership team will continue to manage the business.

As usual, new products were also on display at MobileCON, including devices from Multi-Tech Systems, www.multitech.com. The company announced a new line of products featuring modules from Telit Wireless Solutions, www.telit.com, including two versions of an intelligent wireless router, a USB cellular dongle, a Mini PCI Express embedded cellular modem, and 3G models of its SocketModem line of embedded cellular modems.

Other new products came from Wilson Electronics, www.wilsonelectronics.com, which announced a line of 4G boosters. Wilson Electronics says the new multi-band boosters are designed to work in thermally efficient office and commercial buildings that often prevent cellular signals from going through walls and low-emittance windows. The new boosters will amplify signals on 4G networks, as well as legacy networks.

Products for the law enforcement world were also highlighted. Numerex Corp., www.numerex.com, announced it is working with AMS (Alcohol Monitoring Systems Inc.), www.alcoholmonitoring.com, for the development of continuous alcohol monitoring products. Numerex provided advisory, design, and network services to create an M2M wireless solution for the SCRAMx system, a wireless ankle bracelet that remotely downloads data via the cellular network.

MobileCON showed partnerships are an important part of M2M solutions, providing multiple examples of companies working together to create a stronger product or service. The vast number of connected solutions on display demonstrates the increasing awareness of M2M and how it can benefit the enterprise, as well as the consumer.