Telcos unite to form global M2M technology alliance

Group will work with Jasper Wireless technologies to promote global standards

Seven telecommunications companies on four continents have united to form an alliance to set standards and core technologies for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.

The operators include Japan's NTT Docomo and Singapore's SingTel in Asia; Australia's Telstra; Spain's Telefonica, which also owns the O2 mobile network in the UK, Russia's Vimpelcom and The Netherland's KPN in Europe; and, Rogers of Canada in North America.

The alliance will work with Jasper Wireless's M2M technology to develop a common platform for the provisioning and management of embedded wireless communications between wireless internet-connected devices - not just mobile devices but, perhaps, cars and household appliances.

The aim of the operators is to drive through standards and common technologies that can be adopted throughout the industry, with the results being submitted to the relevant global standards bodies. The companies will develop a single SIM card that can be used across the world, "eliminating roaming costs in the countries of participating operators," according to a joint statement.

It continued: "The goal is to stimulate the sale of M2M communications across a number of distinct high-potential industries such as consumer electronics, automotive [and] energy efficiency, enabling the development of new business models, the creation of new products and services and a reduction in operational costs for these target industries."