inside Orange

How to make M2M work for you

Enterprises wanting more visibility and control over their remote devices, objects or vehicles are turning on to machine-to-machine communications. But with complex network choices, integration challenges and diverse business drivers, creating a M2M strategy is not a DIY task.

According to industry analysts, ABI Research, the number of cellular M2M connections – currently 75 million – will triple in the next four years, evidence that the M2M market is on the brink of mainstream business adoption.

It’s not surprising: in this challenging economic and environmental climate, M2M can help enterprises improve their efficiency, cut costs and launch new products or services. But the challenge many businesses will face is how to leverage M2M when there is such a fragmented value chain involving module manufacturers, OEMs, network operators, roaming networks, middleware developers and business intelligence software vendors. Even with these elements knitted together in a solution, does it necessarily solve the original business case?

To make it easier for enterprises to deploy M2M solutions Orange has launched Business M2M which can deliver end-to-end solutions for companies in vertical sectors such as in healthcare, transport, utilities or home automation.

a major player in M2M

Orange is a well-established player in M2M with over 1 million active SIM cards, and recognized by IDC as the “probably the most advanced and focused European telco in the M2M field”. This year has seen the creation of an international centre of excellence in Belgium with a dedicated M2M team to support international businesses; the launch of a “hardened” SIM card to cope with the wear and tear of communications in extreme conditions; and the acquisition of Data & Mobiles, a major fleet management specialist.

And now Orange has launched a new proposition, Business M2M which brings together the various elements of the M2M jigsaw: consulting, communications, integration and service delivery to support customers through the whole lifecycle from business case through build and deployment to operational activities.

Business M2M is a comprehensive portfolio that includes an assessment of requirements, solution design, the global connectivity that enables machines to communicate and the development of custom solutions in different sectors.

consultancy

Orange provides a consultancy led approach to M2M with professional services and guidance on hand to help design solutions to suit individual businesses. This approach includes benchmarking of existing solutions and technologies to address business challenges, scenario analysis including calculation of ROI, impact analysis and solution design.

joint innovation

By combining the customer’s vertical market knowledge with Orange’s experience in M2M management, Orange can accelerate the R&D process and deliver a solution which works first time. One such example of joint innovation is the partnership with Sorin Group, a major developer of medical devices. Orange and Sorin have jointly developed and implemented an end-to-end solution for remote monitoring of cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices. The telemedicine solution facilitates the follow-up care of patients by transmitting data electronically from implanted cardiac devices to their physicians, without the patients leaving their homes.

managed communications

Whether you need an M2M solution to support roaming or non-roaming devices deployed in multiple countries, it is not easy piecing together a regional or global communications strategy.

Managing the entire communications activity from device to database or business rules engine is essential. Orange will design a connectivity solution most suitable for the device and the customer. In many cases this may include mobile access using GSM and 3G: Orange can offer mobile network coverage in 151 countries, including 30 countries within its own global mobile footprint. But not all projects are mobile-enabled: in some cases DSL, WiFi, or RFID are more suitable for connecting the M2M devices, and Orange can design and support the suitable network.

Access networks connect into the customer’s MPLS IP-VPN. Global support for IPv6 ensures there is sufficient addressing space for every device without the need for address translation.

device testing & deployment

It would be foolish to deploy thousands of M2M devices without checking them, so before deployment, Orange tests devices to ensure they operate correctly; for deployments in extreme environments – hot or cold, or vibrations from machinery – Orange has developed a hardened SIM with a longer life span than typical M2M SIM cards. All SIMs are automatically provisioned and tested – the customer decides when to activate billing.

service management

Enterprises need to be able to see their device in real time and bring the data back into their ERP or business intelligence systems. To facilitate this, Orange supports a middleware platform and online customer portal to provide the necessary control and visibility.
Customers can view the usage and billing activity of each SIM within an online customer portal. The portal contains self-service tools for diagnostics, troubleshooting and traffic monitoring to reduce device downtime. The portal also provides visibility into QoS and usage/billing data. A more suitable rate plan can be recommended based on real consumption statistics. Any queries on support or billing are dealt with by a dedicated M2M helpdesk.

solutions for all businesses

M2M modules can currently be found in numerous B2B applications such as vending machines, industrial equipment, delivery trucks, electricity meters, environmental sensors and life-saving medical devices is a sign of just how far M2M has come in the last 10 years. So whatever the industry you are in, talk to Orange Business Services about how Business M2M can work for you.