The future of mobility will change radically through Machine-to-Machine Technology

The M2M Challenge is looking for innovative mobility solutions for automotive, telematics, logistics, transport and traffic

Munich, November 6, 2012 – Mobility solutions for commercial and private vehicles, car-to-car communication, telematics, infotainment, tracking in transport and logistics – the exchange of information and data in the field of mobility is being more and more revolutionized through machine-to-machine solutions. New players, new business models and new legal framework conditions will further speed up their implementation and distribution. The “M2M Challenge”, an international innovation competition, is calling on enterprises and developers from all over the world to submit innovative M2M applications and thereby participate in the fast growing market of machine-to-machine communication. The competition is supported by the title sponsors Swisscom and Ericsson and sponsors Telit Wireless Solutions and VARTA Microbattery.
The fields of automotive, telematics, logistics as well as transport and traffic are the most developed when it comes to machine-to-machine solutions. Over 7.5 million telematics units are being used worldwide in commercial vehicles, with a total market of approximately 300 million vehicles. Driver assistance systems in the vehicle enable a multitude of functions such as antilock braking systems, ESP, brake assistants, tyre pressure monitoring systems, proximity control systems, adaptive high beam assistants, automatic emergency brakes, or automatic object recognition / pedestrian protection. Furthermore, the transmission of status data of the vehicle and, in the future also of the driver, car-to-car communication and the related opportunities of traffic control will lead to new developments in this field.
“It is clear that M2M will continue to play an increasingly vital role in the world of telematics”, states Gerhard Schedler, Head of M2M at Swisscom. “Through the deployment of telematics we enable more efficient and more environmentally responsible business practices. At the Swisscom M2M Centre of Competence we are committed to supporting applications that fuel both long-time business strategies and sustainability for our customers.”
New legal framework conditions are often the key drivers for growth. A good example on EU-level is the project “eCall”. It is the goal of the European Union to equip every vehicle with an automatic emergency call system by 2015. A further example is the Italian government which will introduce a law enabling every vehicle owner to claim lower insurance rates when using an M2M device in the automobile. In the US, all large insurance companies are already implementing “UBI” programs (User Based Insurance, “Pay how you drive”). Based on individual driving behavior (driving times, braking and acceleration habits, etc.), the rates for the vehicle insurance will be calculated again and thereby safe driving is rewarded. With the transmission of driver data, “on-demand” solutions offered by automobile insurance companies such as „Pay as you drive“, are imaginable as well. The distribution of M2M mobility solutions will take up a new speed, even though the peak has not been reached by far. “Making machines talk to each other remotely is the key technology of the future, and as possibilities go, we are still far from the peak that can be achieved – but we will get there eventually”, says Cyril Zeller, Senior Sales Director – Global Telematics Segment at Telit Wireless Solutions.
Concepts for innovative M2M mobility solutions can be submitted for the “M2M Challenge”, the international innovation competition in the field of M2M, until December 31, 2012 at www.m2m-challenge.com. A renowned international panel of experts will evaluate the submissions with regard to criteria such as market potential, degree of technological innovation, and novel usage of the “Internet of Things”. The finalists and the winner of the competition will be announced in line with the official awards ceremony at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2013. The winner will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000 and all finalists will get the opportunity to present their solution to a large audience of international industry and media representatives.
M2M Challenge
Premiering in 2012, the “M2M Challenge” competition in innovation is looking to recognize new and revolutionary m2m apps in the categories of energy & smart grid, automotive & transport, security & surveillance, healthcare & wellness, and consumer electronics & more. Entries will be evaluated by an international panel of experts on criteria including innovative character, business potential, and usability. Developers and users are invited to join the competition and benefit from the unique networking opportunities and business generating potential. Innovative m2m apps must be submitted online at www.m2m-challenge.com by December 31st, 2012. The M2M Challenge is sponsored by Title Sponsors Swisscom and Ericsson. Other contributors include sponsors, Telit Wireless Solutions and VARTA Microbattery, with Beecham Research, Cloud & IOT Show & BuildInG Taiwan, Cluster 55, Team Côte d’Azur, and Wearable Technologies making up the international partner network.
m2m apps
m2m apps is an independent intelligence platform for the global machine-to-machine communication ecosystem. The goal of m2m apps is to provide clarity and promote business development in the M2M market. The platform serves as an invaluable source of information for decision makers needing or wanting to touch M2M from areas including industry, finance, sciences and public affairs.
Through powerful search capabilities, fine-tuned to support business case development as well as supplier selection and assessment for M2M projects; m2m apps users can search the knowledge base and create reports conveniently arranged by technologies, vertical industries, regions and detailed supplier data.
In the highly fragmented M2M market, product vendors and service providers are faced with a daunting task when it comes to effectively promoting their portfolio. m2m apps offers vendors in the global M2M ecosystem the opportunity to present themselves, their products and their services free of charge in a dedicated and professional environment. Become part of the international M2M network and share your knowledge and ideas with the global M2M community on Twitter (www.m2mapps.com/twitter), on Facebook (www.m2mapps.com/facebook), and on our Blog (http://blog.m2mapps.com/). Find the future – at www.m2mapps.com

Navispace AG
Navispace AG is a technology marketing agency based in the Munich area. Through its close relations to partners such as research institutes, trade shows and technology providers Navispace offers customers a complete going to market supply chain. A core competence of Navispace is business development through cross-sector technology transfer. Navispace is initiator and organizer of the M2M Challenge.

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E-Mail: s.simon@navispace.de, E-Mail: a.daniels@navispace.de

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