Seven global mobile operators form M2M alliance

Seven leading mobile operators across continents yesterday announced the formation of a global alliance to initiate collaboration in the area of machine-to-machine (M2M) data communications, aiming to ease the complex fragmentation of the M2M market.
 
The partners of the venture include Netherlands' KPN NV, Japan's NTT Docomo Inc, Canada's Rogers Communications Inc, Singapore's SingTel Ltd, Spain's Telefonica SA, Australia's Telstra Corp Ltd and Russia's Vimpelcom Ltd.
 
Basically, M2M is the exchange of data between a connectivity-enabled remote machine and a back-end IT infrastructure. Widespread adoption of cellular equipment has made wireless M2M technology available to manufacturers all over the world.

The alliance will focus on providing a global, seamless solution to multinational customers requiring M2M devices connectivity that will enable them to connect their data communication devices in multiple countries, according to an NTT Docomo release.

The collaboration is expected to increase the capability to offer enhanced services to their existing and potential customers seven collaborating telecom providers  in different markets and geographies.
 
''The global alliance in providing a global product featuring a unique SIM, and a united web interface and centralised management of status and usage of M2M devices globally, via the Jasper Wireless control center, is expected to result in cost reduction and enhancement of user experience and convenience,'' the release said.
 
The customers equipped with the unique SIM, will be able to eliminate roaming costs in the countries of the participating operators.
 
Mountain View, California-based Jasper Wireless is the world's first and only global M2M mobile operator. The company partners with network operators around the world enabling them to quickly and efficiently service the M2M market thorough their cloud-based platform.
 
''This kind of development was almost inevitable,'' Jim Morrish, director of M2M research firm Machina Research said in an email to UK's Total Telecom, telecommunications news provider.
 
"Jasper has made clear its aim of establishing a constellation of operators around the Jasper platform and all of the operators in today's announcement are already Jasper clients," Morrish said.
 
The global alliance of the telecom leaders will concentrate on the sale of M2M communications across such high-potential industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, energy efficiency etc enabling the development of new business models, the creation of new products and services and a reduction in operational costs for these target industries.
 
Analysts expect the seven operators to provide a variety of M2M managed and value-added services including service level agreements, systems integration and managed security services.