Zigbee and M2M

A short introduction tot M2M

M2M is the most common used abbreviation for Machine to Machine communication, but has sometimes been translated as Man-to-Machine, Machine-to-Man, Machine-to-Mobile and Mobile-to-Machine. M2M refers to the exchange of data between machines and more specific between devices and a central system. Quite often those devices are installed in the field at locations where a fixed communication infrastructure is not available and where other communication technologies are used, like SMS, GPRS, WIFI, Zigbee and many other proprierty communcation methods.

M2M is quite often named together with Telemetry and Telematics. Those two words do not mean the same. Telemetry is the wireless transmission and reception of measured quantities for the purpose of remotely monitoring environmental conditions or equipment parameters. The term is also used in reference to the signals containing such data. Telematics is the blending of computers and wireless telecommunications technologies, ostensibly with the goal of efficiently conveying information over vast networks to improve a host of business functions or government-related public services.With M2M we can say that it is the infrastructure needed to make telemetry possible.

Here's shows how telemetry was performed in early days

GSM enables M2M

There has always being a need for remote measurement of values or remote controle of devices. Due to the fact that sensors were quite expensive and communication infrastructures were expensive and difficult to manage, it never came to a real growth until the introduction of GSM networks. With the Subscriber Identity Module, common named SIM card, a very intersting piece of technolgy came available to do other things than just makeing phone calls. In the beginning the services GSM data and SMS were used to communicate the values or controle signals to a central computer system. With GSM Data a data connection is created by calling the MSISDN number and setting up a digital modem connection. The transmission speed is very low comparing with the data transmission speeds we are used today but at that time the application was tailord to that limit.

To use GSM Data within M2M was and is not very complex to manage. The most complex issues were to manage the costs of data calls to manage the install base of SIM cards. Mobile Operators do offer M2M services thought they find it generally a  service to complex to manage and it generates not much ARPU, Average Revenue Per User, comparing to a mobile subscription used for calling. Companies like Kore Telematics in the US, Wireless Maingate and Jasper Wireless in Europe, Mach Communications in Australia adressed this specific area of expertise that mobile operators did not address to the full extend. They build their competence and created specific services for industrial customers build on GSM services like GSM Data, SMS and GPRS.

Since the beginning of 2009 some mobile operators do see the potential of M2M and have started to adress this particlair segment. Vodafone is setting up a Global M2M platform and Mobistar in Belgium has adressed this segment with a special business unit. The advantage of the mobile operators is that they are the owner of the radio network and should be more in controle. At the other end the M2M business must compete internally with with a lot of other high ARPU services and the question is: are mobile operators capable to address the specific needs of M2M customer within their organisation. At the end it's not only the technique that is important but also the complete service like support, billing, business models and tools.