Industry-Specific Sensors

Data from sensors can be more valuable than you think. Companies across multiple vertical markets continue to find value in deploying sensor networking technology, one of the Six Pillars of M2M. These companies are finding even greater value turning data gathered from sensors into actionable information at the enterprise level.

This means sensor networking technology needs to fit specific requirements of different vertical markets. As such we are seeing sensor networking technology specifically tailored to different verticals.


This Week's News...

Keeping It Cool

Food spoilage costs supermarkets millions of dollars each year. As consumers continue to gravitate toward refrigerated and frozen foods, the grocery industry is a prime target for M2M (machine-to-machine) solutions that can monitor and track temperatures.


Networked Utilities Show Potential

Nearly every day, new announcements from technology companies focused on energy/utilities continue to boost the wattage of the industry’s smart grid zeal. From meter rollouts, to energy management devices and platforms, vendors and adopters are clearly seeing opportunity in the smart grid. Like many new technologies, the smart grid is getting a lot of hype, some of which is probably warranted and some that may not be.


Global Tracking Available

RFID (radio frequency identification) is useful for many vertical markets, such as retail, healthcare, or transportation. The military is another such market, with the technology becoming pervasive within many of its operations. For example, assets for defense and military operations are often valuable and sensitive, and keeping track of these items is necessary to ensure safety for troops and civilians.


Other Components of the Smart Grid

The term ‘smart grid’ has become so prevalent in today's news-included in everything from presidential speeches to television commercials-that the average consumer might fall under the assumption that this is something that is already in place. However, some would argue the fact that today's grid is far from being considered "smart."


Current Issue - May/Jun 2009

Volume 7 Number 3

Machine-to-Machine Stimulus

Government funds allocated for energy and healthcare could also help the machine-to-machine market make a bigger name for itself worldwide.

There’s an old saying that goes, “You can’t buy that type of publicity.” But $102 billion does a pretty good job at getting people to acknowledge your presence. That $102 billion is the sum of the $59 billion and $43 billion allocated to healthcare and energy, respectively, as part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act put in place by the Obama administration in an effort to help jumpstart the American economy. More specifically, roughly $4.3 billion of energy funding is tabbed for technology investment in the smart grid, and approximately $20 billion in healthcare is allocated toward IT (information technology) investment.


Commentary

Heard on the Street

I have probably said it before, but these are very challenging, yet exciting times for the machine-to-machine marketplace. While the turbulent economic times are certainly playing havoc on the growth of just about every industry, the M2M segment is truly the only technology community that is destined to help companies of all sizes and shapes reap amazing benefits. As the editorial director of M2M magazine, I am not the only person espousing that this industry will experience remarkable growth. Analysts, technology providers, industry observers, and even investors see great opportunity on the horizon during the next 12 to 24 months. We are even witnessing a host of new companies entering the M2M marketplace. At the CTIA show this past April, the editors of M2M magazine talked with several companies that indicated they wanted to stake a claim in the North American module market before the end of 2009, despite the already seemingly commoditized space.






Show Topic This Week

M2M Marketing

Abhi Ingle, vice president, industry & mobility application solutions, AT&T, talks about the company’s work in the energy/utilities industry and what he foresees for the future of consumer M2M.