With the arrival—and ultimate departure—of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES (News - Alert)) event in Las Vegas, one thing became very clear: consumer electronics were about to get a lot more connected. As such, there were a great many developments in the field of machine to machine (M2M) solutions, and plenty to talk about. With the weekend now at hand, and CES behind us, it's a good time to run down some of the biggest points of the week, which we'll do right now with our Week in Review coverage!
First, we got word on the expansion in the Android market, as Google (News - Alert) looked to take the operating system beyond tablets and smartphones and move it into the connected car market. While Android has made appearances outside of mobile devices before, the formation of the Open Automotive Alliance has looked to give Android a whole new lease on life in the car field, complete with some very big names in support of the concept like Honda (News - Alert) and Audi.
Next came word from AT&T, who was likewise spotted in the connected car market thanks to a recent deal with electric car maker Tesla. The deal brings AT&T (News - Alert) systems in to connect Tesla's remote engine diagnostic systems, as well as extra features like live traffic updates, weather reports, and navigation systems all controlled via a 17 inch touchscreen. Several other features are also set to follow, including complete in-car connectivity with the “first-ever in-vehicle 4G LTE data connection.”
A look at the overall size of the M2M market came next, with some figures suggesting different points depending on a variety of factors. While even conservative estimates suggested a $10 billion market by 2018, other figures suggested a $45 billion market. The differences in projections came about as a result of several different variables going into overall consideration. Issues of region, of total impact, and several others factored in to form some wildly varying predictions.
Then we got a look at the combined efforts of Staples and Zonoff, as the two worked to expand the impact posed by Staples (News - Alert) Connect. With the expansion is set to come not only more device partners, but also more wireless protocols accepted as part of the mix. With applications in both home and office settings, the addition of more features should prove to be a long-term boost to the Staples Connect platform's overall value in the field, especially given the difficulties seen previously in terms of getting devices under better centralized control.
Finally, we had a look at Throughtek Co. Ltd., who announced that its Internet of Things Cloud (IOTC) platform was in use on a level sufficient to connect over two million users total. The milestone came in part as a result of the IOTC platform's versatility, as evidenced by the array of companies putting it to use. Companies like Swann and QNAP Technology have already been seen using Throughtek's platform, and further expansion of the brand is likely to follow.
That was the week that was in machine to machine solutions, and CES clearly had a big hand in bringing news to the field. News also came from outside CES, and our global online community was right in the thick of it, regardless of the direction. So be sure to join us back here next week for all the latest news in the field, and of course, every weekend for our Week in Review coverage!