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INDUSTRY NEWS


19 May 2008

Mobile M2M communications set for growth


There is likely to be a significant rise in mobile machine-to-machine (M2M) communications over the next several years, something evidenced by the number of modules – radio units providing wireless connectivity for devices – being shipped.

According to ABI Research, the market for these modules will total nearly 80 million in 2013, the main uses being OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) telematics and navigation systems, advanced metering for utilities, point-of-sale terminals including ATMs, and managed automation.

Sam Lucero, senior analyst at the firm, said: "The latest cellular M2M module market data collated by ABI Research shows strong growth trends that are closely in line with our earlier forecasts."

Mobile M2M communications are used in a variety of different industries where wireless enabled devices communicate between one another without any direct human intervention.

In the field of managed automation for example, mobile M2M can be used by mobile service providers to add wireless as a backup option to traditional landline connectivity.

Earlier this month, analyst Berg Insight predicted that the number of mobile network connections used for M2M communications will rise by more than a third in the next four years, from 37.5 million in 2007 to 186 million in 2012, as more devices acquire functionality to communicate with each other.

© 2006 Adfero Ltd.

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