Tallahassee, FL 2/23/12 (StreetBeat) -- Investors that didn’t catch the New York Times article The Age of Big Data on February 11th or know anything about The Internet of Things should take a moment and check them out as they provide a window to the future of communications. Companies such as International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM), RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ:RFMD) and iMetrik M2M Solutions Inc. (OTCBB: IMEK) see the evolution happening as data collection and conveyance of that data back and forth between machines to provide critical information is on its way to becoming the next booming technology. In all actuality, “booming” may not even be a strong enough word.It’s not just coming; it’s here. Believe that.
Data collection can be used for virtually everything in life to make it far more efficient, but it is just beginning to be realized how powerful it can become. It is no longer a concept; it’s reality. Businesses will be able to know what is happening anywhere – at any time – to control mission critical or asset protecting systems and manage those systems remotely from anywhere in the world.
The scope of data collection and monitoring is broad, but as Gary King, director of Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science, says in the NY Times article “It’s a revolution. We’re really just getting under way. But the march of quantification, made possible by enormous new sources of data, will sweep through academia, business and government. There is no area that is going to be untouched.” Echoing these sentiments, Clark Nguyen, an electrical engineering professor from the University of Michigan who develops sensors for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency told Forbes, “I like to be conservative about things, but in a way [sensor networks] could be bigger than the Internet.”
Overcoming the Obstacles
M2M stands for “machine-to-machine” communications, ubiquitous electronic devices that can talk to each other through wireless networks and, through the Internet, talk to people who can control them. It’s all about data collection and control. As more devices become networked and empowered to talk with each other, M2M will multiply exponentially and give users the type of control over assets only dreamed of in the past.
M2M technology has been heralded for many years as one of the next great technological advances, but the nascent technology took longer to develop than most expected. We spoke with Jonathan Barratt, Chief Technical Officer at iMetrik M2M Solutions about the initial sluggishness of the M2M industry. “It was certainly not that the demand wasn’t great for M2M solutions. It’s off the charts, in fact. But, just like with any other new technology, there were hurdles to overcome with regards to all the building blocks necessary to make the system completely efficient,” he said. “At iMetrik M2M, we are the first to clear all those hurdles and deploy a true ‘plug-and-play,’ entirely wireless platform that ties together the sensors to capture the data, the sensors and network connections to convey the data and the web application to read the data and control fixed or mobile assets anywhere, anytime without any other parties being involved. We believe that this is the signal that the M2M industry has turned the corner and is ready to hit the gas.”
What Can You Do With It?
The possibilities for M2M are limitless. Everything can be connected from a person’s body to a piece of machinery to a grain of sand in the desert. For example, a sump pump can have a sensor and gauges on it that tells owners when it kicks on and off, if it is functioning correctly or if it has lost power. Cars can have sensors put in them so if payments are missed or the car is stolen, the vehicle can be disabled. Any asset that is leased can be monitored or shut down if necessary. Basically, if it moves, grows, needs tracking, can heat-up or cool down, makes noise, leaks, etc., it is a candidate for M2M applications. Potential users range from basic consumers to businesses to the highest level of the military and back again.
A Dutch company is even using M2M technology on cattle to tell owners when a cow is sick or pregnant, another makes a wireless cardiac monitor that can alert physicians of health risks. Industry stalwarts Ericsson and Cisco have predicted that, worldwide, more than 50 billion objects will be connected through the internet by 2020. Cisco actually perked their estimate to 100 billion. It’s a one-of-a-kind industry expected to mushroom from $50 billion to $250 billion in the next couple years.
All the Ducks in a Row, Time to Generate Revenue
iMetrik M2M has a manufacturing agreement in place with SMT Hautes Technologies and has partnered with Monnit Corporation to provide wireless sensors, a web application and a cellular gateway that eliminates development time and reduces installation to an absolute minimum. According to Barratt, demand is already starting to show itself for their new technology in the form of their first hard orders and hundreds more for demos from their distributors.
Everything is aligned for iMetrik M2M. The software and hardware are developed. Manufacturing contracts are done. Distribution agreements are inked. Orders are starting to be received. They have the only “plug-and-play” product on the market. The company is positioned as a clear leader in an industry that experts believe is already starting to explode. There won’t be any sensor to tell investors when the big boom is coming. Learn more about IMEK now.
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