Hi all just found this.Vodafone and IBM aim for M2M standardsTwo...

Hi all

just found this.

Vodafone and IBM aim for M2M standards

Two giants combine Vodafone's M2M platform and IBM's new SmartCloud system for service delivery to home appliances

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 4 September, 2012

READ MORE: Vodafone Group | Infrastructure | M2M | Standards



The big cellcos are racing to form alliances and strategies to profit from the rise in machine-to-machine systems which harness 3G and 4G networks. The latest move comes from Vodafone, which has announced an alliance with IBM for remote management of connected home devices such as smart meters and kitchen appliances.

The new partners were showing off a demonstration of their mobile management capabilities at last week's IFA electronics event, using a washing machine and other smart home products as examples. These were connected by Vodafone's Global M2M Platform and managed by IBM's new SmartCloud Service Delivery Platform.


IBM's new system is the flagship of its own expansion into enabling the internet of things, extending the capabilities of its back end and cloud-based management systems. This trend will broaden its offerings for its established large and medium enterprise base and also boost its efforts to extend those systems to carriers, utilities and other sectors.

The IT giant says the SmartCloud SDP is a "cost effective and scalable" way to manage appliances and to introduce new applications and consumer services for those devices, in a rapid and flexible way driven by market changes. Vodafone's M2M platform helps appliance manufacturers to incorporate managed and secure wireless connectivity in their home gateways, which then support a host of embedded products.

By combining the platforms, the two partners say they are trying to create a global, standards based approach for smart home connectivity and management. This is the goal which many large firms are chasing - to sit at the heart of the complex spider's web of the internet of things, setting standards and cross-vendor platforms. While Vodafone may aim to see its SIM cards in each of those home appliances, and in the handsets which will increasingly control the whole home network, it will be more important to drive the platforms which integrate devices from all its rivals, and here IBM's cloud division is a powerful ally.

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"Cloud will increasingly be used in new ways that will provide enhanced consumer centric experiences, especially when combined with mobile communications," said Scott Stainken, general manager of IBM's telecommunications industry unit.

http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2012/09/04/vodafone-ibm-aim-m2m-standards.htm