M2M : Machine 2 Machine

With businesses waking up to the operational benefits and efficiency savings of real-time data monitoring, wireless telemetry (or AMR — Automated Meter Reading) will lead the evolving growth in M2M markets over the coming 3 years and beyond – according to industry analysts Juniper Research — with revenues rising from $11.6bn in 2006 to $25.3bn by 2009.

According to Juniper, the substantial rise in revenues — expected to quadruple by 2011 to $40.8bn — will contrast with limited growth in telematics from $6.4bn to $11bn in the same period — owing to current widespread usage in many commercial vehicles due to legislation. Other outlets including security and surveillance, highway and public transport signs, and health care will show encouraging signs rising from a cumulative low of $2bn in 2006 to over $9bn by 2009.

To date however, growth has been restrained. M2M projects are notoriously long-term investments taking years to initiate, due to large budgets, the length of the decision making process, and time needed to put together a custom solution from several supply chain players. Despite these hurdles, Therese insists the signs are positive: “Earlier in 2006 the Italian energy company Enel completed an installation of 30 million AMRs. The cumulative cost of this project up to 2005 was $4.48bn. In the same year, only 6 million meters were providing readings, increasing revenues by $1bn.”

“Similar cost and benefit patterns are expected across the whole of the wireless AMR segment. Certainly, making the business case will become easier as more companies bite the bullet and provide success stories for others to learn from.”

M2M, Automation, Telemetry, Remote Monitoring, LBS

The 2007 M2M 100 is a list of the most important and influential machine-to-machine technology providers as determined by the editors of M2M magazine and its editorial advisory board. It is designed to provide a snapshot of the market as it exists today and the companies with the greatest impact on its direction. The M2M 100 is published annually.

http://www.specialtypub.com/m2m/m2m100/listing.asp

M2M, Automation, Telemetry, Remote Monitoring, LBS

As unobtrusive as a small electric clock, the PowerCost Monitorâ„¢ is a powerful real-time direct feedback display device for domestic energy consumers. It tells them at a glance, in real-time, how much electricity their home is using in dollars and cents and in kW.

Domestic energy use studies have demonstrated that real-time feedback yields energy savings anywhere between 10 and 20 percent. The savings at the high end of this range are realized when a tabletop energy display device, such as the PowerCost Monitorâ„¢, is used.

The PowerCost Monitorâ„¢ technology consists of two discrete functional units:

1. A detection unit, known as the transmitter, is affixed to an existing household electromechanical utility meter with a simple ring clamp.
This transmitter tracks the energy consumed by counting turns of
the meter disk. This is the only component of the PowerCost Monitorâ„¢ that will be in direct physical contact with the utility’s electromechanical meter and the clamp mechanism allows it to be attached to the outside of the meter glass. It can also be quickly attached and detached without making any changes to the existing meter.

2. The display unit, located inside the home, receives a wireless signal from the transmitter and displays the consumption information in real time and in dollars and cents for the end user. Other information is also displayed such as time and outside temperature.

M2M, Automation, Telemetry, Remote Monitoring, LBS

Came across this company while researching Bluetooth connectivity options for local area M2M connectivity. This eliminates the need for physical cabling ..

SENA’s Bluetooth-Serial products enable a serial device to communicate with another serial port adapter or other Bluetooth enabled devices such as mobile phones, handheld computers and laptops. They are suitable for industrial applications that require data logging, wireless sensor control and monitoring in production facilities. Also in medical applications, physicians with hand held devices are able to view and update medical databases and patient’s charts instantly reducing redundant paper work, increasing efficiency and lowering hospital costs. Other applications include retail POS, bar code scanners and credit card readers, restaurant order and receipt printers, security systems, gas pumps, and outdoor sign boards.

M2M, Automation, Telemetry, Remote Monitoring, LBS

Next Generation WiBox Wirelessly Networks Existing Equipment in Minutes and Delivers New Standards, Greater Flexibility and Ease of DeploymentAlpha Micro has launched the latest version of the award-winning WiBox® wireless Device Server™ from Lantronix for the remote management and control of appliances and machines over a wireless network. The new WiBox delivers support for the latest generation 802.11g standards and adds wired Ethernet connectivity for increased configuration flexibility in the field. Specialised features offer additional options and ease of configuration,

Alpha Micro

making serial or Ethernet device connectivity possible in just minutes regardless of the application. WiBox provides an ideal solution for companies looking to network-enable a variety of machines and appliances, ranging from plant equipment to corporate security systems.

The enhanced dual-port RS232 WiBox now provides 802.11 b/g wireless capabilities for higher bandwidth and superior data throughput performance. The WiBox also provides a unique bridging capability which allows an Ethernet device to be connected to an 802.11 wireless network. This increases connectivity options, allowing greater flexibility when dealing with a mixed (Ethernet or wireless) device environment in a single solution.

In addition, the new WiBox is industrial-grade (robust with a wide temperature range), making wireless communications possible in harsh outdoor or factory environments. It is also fully RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances)-compliant and backwards compatible with the 802.11 b wireless standard.

M2M, Automation, Telemetry, Remote Monitoring, LBS