The mobile machine-to-machine (M2M) market is booming, growing by 25 per cent in 2012, according to analysts Infonetics Research. The organisation pins a value on the market of $1.5bn.
"To put things in perspective, the mobile M2M module is just one of many technology solutions available for M2M services, one that represents less than 15 per cent of active M2M connections today," said Infonetics' directing analyst Godfrey Chua.
"Mobile M2M modules compete against myriad other technology solutions that enable M2M services, including DSL and T1 lines as well as wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Zigbee and Bluetooth," he continued.
He added: "Mobile operators are deploying more M2M solutions and enterprises and consumers are increasingly adopting them across the globe, creating a robust outlook for the overall M2M services market, as well as the mobile M2M module market.
"Many mobile operators are putting a sharp focus on and real resources behind their M2M businesses, and it's beginning to pay off. That one of the global leaders, AT&T, can speak of a billion-dollar business in this segment demonstrates the traction and growth that M2M services are experiencing."
Currently, 2G technologies comprise the majority of mobile M2M units, but 3G will grow to encompass 56 per cent of all M2M modules shipped by 2017. However, LTE or 4G is the fastest growing mobile M2M technology segment, claims Infonetics.
This has been driven by such projects as the connected car initiatives from companies like General Motors with its OnStar project. Indeed, Infonetics believes that a cumulative $2.6bn will be spent on mobile M2M modules for automotive use over the next five years.
China is also a major growth market for M2M technology, with China Mobile's LTE-TDD network that is currently under construction, and the Chinese government's "smart cities" initiative.
