M2M : Machine 2 Machine

The XBee modules provided by Digi could be usefull for a wide variety of M2M applications – Power line managemnt, Environment monitoring, Traffic sensor data collection’ s- basically applications where you have LOS and no cheap way to get data from Point A to B.

From the PR release -

Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) today introduced XBee-PRO® 868 embeddable RF modules and standalone device adapters, powerful XBee products that provide up to 40 kilometers of RF line-of-sight (LOS) transmission. The products are ideal for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications in challenging terrain or long-range environments such as remote sensor networks, building automation applications, Automatic Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Customers using the XBee-PRO 868 can easily migrate to other XBee solutions including pin-compatible 900 MHz options used primarily in North America, and 2.4 GHz ZigBee and proprietary options available globally.

A new SOC that provides a security co processor for M2M system. This allows the offloading for routine networking and security tasks to dedicated co processor and leaves the primary processor to focus on the M2M application.

Infineon Technologies AG has announced a new family of security MCUs targeting the growing market of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication for various applications. M2M applications range from utility monitoring; remote alarm systems; car telematics (for communication between carmakers and owners to signify that an oil change or software updates are required); fleet management in freight forwarding and rental car companies; to vending machines (stocks level checks).

An M2M experiment launched in Florida to control peak energy demands in. I woudl not be surprised as more services of this nature are rolled out.

A Florida utility wants it customers to use remote managed thermostats. They offer it for free and even provide free installation. This allows customers to control the temperature from any internet enabled device.
Florida Power & Light Company will provide Internet-ready programmable thermostat, a remote control device that can be used when you’re at home, at work, or on vacation.
Along with not charging for the thermostat, FPL will install it for free. In return, the customer agrees to let FPL occasionally cycle the air conditioner for short periods of time, only when necessary, to conserve energy during heavy demand. However, the customer always has the ability to override the utility’s remote control over the air conditioner via the internet or by calling a toll-free number provided by FPL. FPL will also offer devices to control Pool pumps and Heaters.

So whats in it for the consumer?
The consumer will get access to these cool gadgets and credits on their utility bill. This allows FPL to cycle off these devices for brief periods, if needed. In return, participating customers receive monthly credits from FPL on their electric bills. Called On Call, this program means the utility can better manage overall electricity demand and that ensures reliability. For customers participating in the thermostat pilot program, On Call credits will only be offered for the pool pump and the water heater.

Lantronix today announced the MatchPort™ AR, a turnkey, application-ready programmable device server module that delivers highly-secure Ethernet connectivity and advanced web server capabilities for under $40 in volume quantities. MatchPort AR enables OEMs to rapidly network enable their products with the ability to send serial data over standard Ethernet with virtually no programming required.

Highlights

• Application-ready, secure SSL/SSH networking module for high-volume applications
• Low cost, high-performance, 32-bit, 166Mhz 159 MIPS platform
• Built-in CGI and AJAX web server
• RoHS logoPin compatible family includes 802.11 b/g wireless
• Ethernet MAC/PHY; add only RJ45 jack and magnetics to device’s PCB
• SNMP V2c ready, MIB II support
• “Cisco-like” CLI, XML, serial and Telnet management capability

Another iteresting company that I came across – seem to have a suite of applications and lets you start out by using their hosted solution.
IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FreeRange Technologies, Inc. (FreeRange), a provider of connectivity solutions for the embedded market, today announced that it will showcase M2MFrameworx, its remote device management solution for machine-to-machine applications, at Sensors Expo and Conference 2007, which is taking place this week at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. M2MFrameworx consists of an integrated suite of licensable embedded software components and subscription-based services, which when taken together, provide a cost-effective means to gain insight into the status, operation and health of geographically distributed assets, as well as the ability to configure and control those assets via wireless or wired networks.

M2MFrameworx is comprised of three components. The first, DeviceConnex-M2M, is a messaging system that controls embedded cellular modems and transmits data to and from remote assets. This modular set of software components, written in C, resides within networked devices.

The subscription-based service components of the M2MFrameworx solution include the WatchDog Server and FreeRange AirPlan. The WatchDog Server functions as the central repository for all data collected from the networked devices running DeviceConnex-M2M. This interface not only allows users to make sense of the data in real-time, but also provides the means to configure and control the remote devices from a central location.

FreeRange AirPlan is a data plan specifically designed for monitoring and control applications. FreeRange AirPlan supports CDMA and GSM/GPRS, ensuring interoperability and broad coverage across North America. By offering cellular wireless coverage to its customers, FreeRange takes the complexity out of the network access equation by eliminating the need to obtain local cellular accounts or licenses to launch monitoring and control applications.

In addition to cellular wireless networking, M2MFrameworx supports Ethernet connectivity for those situations where cellular coverage is poor or non-existent. This capability affords users the flexibility to deploy the solution in a wide-range of environments.