VimpelCom targets robots in Russia

Second placed Russian carrier VimpelCom has teamed up with machine to machine network specialist Jasper Wireless to bring what it claims is the first M2M platform to the Russian market.

VimpelCom, which operates under the Beeline brand in Russia, said it will use the M2M offering to connect and manage consumer electronics as well as enterprise solutions in a bid to accelerate market entry for a new generation of electronic devices, including e-Readers, digital photo frames, cameras, personal navigation, mobile internet and gaming devices, as well as involvement in key verticals such as transport and logistics, banking and payment, security and tracking, telemetry and monitoring or e-health care.

“Embedded mobile devices in the consumer and enterprise segments represent a vast growth opportunity for our existing and prospective customers and VimpelCom wants to capitalise on this market opportunity, offering customers tailored M2M services that are unique in the industry and accelerate market entry of connected devices – including innovative and flexible business models, automated operations, real-time monitoring and diagnostics as well as enhanced customer support,” said to Andrey Patoka, vice president corporate business development at VimpelCom.

Swedish vendor Ericsson recently predicted that there will be 50 billion devices connected to the network by 2020, with the majority coming from M2M.