Seven operators join forces on M2M

Seven mobile operators across the world have teamed up to create an alliance to collaborate in the M2M space. KPN, NTT Docomo, Rogers, SingTel, Telefónica, Telstra and Vimpelcom have agreed to cooperate to address the complex and fragmented nature of the M2M market.

The operators will agree on standards and technologies to use in the M2M space and expect to offer better value propositions to connected device manufacturers in different markets and geographies.

The collaboration will develop a global product featuring a unique SIM, united web interface and centralised management of status and usage of M2M devices globally, via M2M specialist Jasper Wireless’s Control Centre.

The firms said they expect the alliance to result in cost reduction and an improved user experience. They added that their goal is to stimulate the sale of M2M communications across industries such as consumer electronics, automotive and energy.
In related news the European Commission on Tuesday closed its public consultation on governance solutions for the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT).

While the Internet of Things holds the promise of significant progress in addressing global and societal challenges and to improve daily life, and is a highly promising economic sector for sustainability, growth, innovation and employment, it is likely to have a profound impact on society. The EC highlighted such areas as privacy, security, ethics, and liability as key impact points.

As such, the policy challenge is to assess the right trade-off between the potential economic and societal benefits and the control that governing bodies want to retain over an environment where machines will gather, exchange, process and store information automatically.

”The effects on our private and public space require that people and their governments debate the appropriate governance and management of the Internet of Things in the future. To this end the European Commission envisions a recommendation addressing the main issues,” the organisation said.