When I was introduced to the concept dubbed M2M several years ago, it was an application pushed by cellular technology interests. The idea was to use the technology behind mobile phones (essentially an embedded phone in a machine or something similar) as the broadband network to replace either wired or other radio technology. It would be a great coup for companies that manufacture the guts of the cell phone and for the carriers who envisioned hundreds of millions of phones automatically sending tons of data messages daily. While I could see the value of another broadband, I never could figure out why the connection should be so limited for manufacturing uses. In fact, one of the leading analyst firms in the space, Harbor Research, seldom if ever uses that term. It switched to "pervasive internet" then added "smart services."
A new press release from another analyst firm, Berg Insight, says that 66 million machines will be connected to North American cellular networks by 2011. By comparison, at the end of 2006 the number was 9 million. What's the largest market? Certainly not your milling machine, or even your remote tank farm. It's private vehicles. Following in terms of use are commercial vehicles, security alarms and point-of-sale terminals.
There is often a weird confluence of ideas in my reading and listening, and this is no different. Listen to this podcast from IT Conversations that includes a discussion of OnStar. This "service" has the capability of not only allowing you to call for directions or help, it can also monitor everything about your driving--where you went, how fast you drove (even relative to the speed limit), whether your driving was erratic. Zounds! Thinking about taking a bus?
8:08:28 AM 
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