M2M wireless solution simplifies integration

What if software giant Microsoft; America Online, said to be the nation's leading Internet service provider; and Dell, a premiere provider of IT hardware, joined forces and announced that they were about to revolutionize the world of PCs? Just imagine. Three companies, each a recognized leader in its respective business, combining to create a new offering that simplifies, improves, and lowers t...

By Staff December 15, 2002

What if software giant Microsoft; America Online, said to be the nation’s leading Internet service provider; and Dell, a premiere provider of IT hardware, joined forces and announced that they were about to revolutionize the world of PCs?

Just imagine. Three companies, each a recognized leader in its respective business, combining to create a new offering that simplifies, improves, and lowers the cost of personal computing. Wouldn’t that be unique?

Integrated wireless device

N okia 31 GSM Connectivity Terminal, used with Opto 22 SNAP systems, provides machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity using wireless GSM networks. Together, they connect local or remote physical assets with business applications and databases, for monitoring, control, and data collection from legacy or new equipment and machinery. The NOK-31COMP includes model 31 terminal, cradle, power supply, and serial data cable.

Similarly, Nokia (Helsinki, Finland), AT&T Wireless (AWS, Redmond, WA), and Opto 22 (Temecula, CA) have combined efforts. Nokia, reportedly the world leader in mobile communications technology, AT&T Wireless, said to be one of the largest wireless carriers in the U.S., and Opto 22, design/developer of remote monitoring and data acquisition products, have aligned to revolutionize the way companies can communicate with their extended enterprise.

Core competencies of the three companies qualify them to create what they say is the first fully comprehensive solution for wireless delivery of real-time data from physical business assets to enterprise applications and databases over mobile networks.

What’s in a name?

Called M2M, the solution grew out of the realization that although six billion people populate the earth, there are over 50 billion machines. These machines have one thing in common-they need to be monitored, supervised, or controlled in some way. In particular, businesses and other large enterprises possess a myriad of remote equipment, systems, and devices that must be managed because their functionality is fundamental to business operations. Manufacturing machinery, telecommunications equipment, storage tanks, generators, and pumping stations, are some examples of these types of critical business assets.

Developers of M2M claim that it provides everything needed to connect to and communicate with these types of legacy systems and equipment, thus facilitating a broad range of enterprise activities involving remote equipment monitoring, diagnostics, control, and data acquisition. These activities, in turn, can significantly impact supply-chain execution, energy management, regulatory compliance, and other business initiatives.

Every application

M2M limits the need for customers and integrators to rely on multiple vendors and providers. ”There have been occasions when we had to engineer this type of solution on behalf of a customer and it can be a very unwieldy and frustrating process,” says Steve Pazol, president of Professional Consulting Services (PCS), a Chicago-based full service IT consulting firm and integrator of multiple M2M systems.

”Now, by offering integrators and value-added resellers a one-stop, all-inclusive package, Nokia, AWS, and Opto 22 have relieved us of that responsibility, allowing us to focus on our core competencies and thus decrease our implementation times. This saves the end customer a great deal of time and money,” Mr. Pazol adds.

”Nokia-AWS-Opto 22 M2M has brought a new level of flexibility to enterprises needing to connect to and communicate with legacy remote equipment and facilities,” says Bob Sheffres, Opto 22’s vp. ”Our solution is unique in that it provides all the necessary components-hardware, connectivity, and carrier services-from a software-independent platform. This means that organizations are able to monitor, manage, and gather data using their existing enterprise software, everything from a high-end product like Oracle or SAP to a simple application like Microsoft Access.”

For more information about Opto 22, online visit at www.m2m.opto22.com
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