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Understanding the
world of IoT and M2M

Things, machines and people.

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Changing the world with cellular connectivity

The world is alive with ‘things’. It’s predicted that by 2025 there will be over 40 billion connected devices. So, what are The Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine to Machine (M2M) connectivity, and what’s our role within this dynamic marketplace?

‘Things’ can refer to physical devices, buildings, vehicles, in fact anything that can be connected to the internet via embedded connectivity technology.

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What is IoT?

IoT is a network or eco-system of physical objects (things) that are connected through the internet to exchange data, without any human interaction. These ‘things’ have embedded software, sensors, actuators and network connectivity that enables the collection and exchange of data.

Connected technology continues to impact the way we work and live – smart homes, smart cars, cellular connectivity and the Internet of Everything have become everyday terms.

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What is M2M connectivity?

M2M is the one- or two-way exchange of information between devices, using either wired or wireless connectivity without the manual assistance from humans.

This technology has been used for decades as the standard in telemetry. Wireless M2M has been dominated by mobiles using cellular networks since they were introduced in the mid-2000s with 2G introducing the new age of SIM connectivity.

Applications can be seen in Manufacturing, Smart Agriculture, Industry 4.0, and Traffic Control which includes monitoring speed and volume.

M2M doesn’t need an internet connection whereas IoT does.

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The differences between IoT and M2M

To keep it simple, M2M is where machines connect to each other using a network to share data, such as machines, sensors or appliances – anything that can send and receive data through one- or two-way communication.

IoT is the next step, it’s an eco-system or network of devices that exchange data over a network and can connect anything. This data can be monitored and controlled using a platform allowing for businesses to closely monitor their ‘things’ to work efficiently, saving time and money.

M2M and IoT both provide remote access to devices or other connected things.

Key differentiators between M2M and IoT

Technology M2M IoT
Internet Protocol (IP) Mainly focused on direct point-to-point connectivity across mobile networks or fixed lines.

Communication between devices only.
IoT communications involve IP networks and employ cloud or middleware platforms.

With IoT, broader processes, connectivity and applications are possible.
Big Data Data from M2M devices is not shared with other applications. Connected assets using IoT can deliver huge generated data packets of which programming and analysis can lead to improved business performance.
Scalability No scalability. Only works between one or two devices. IoT uses a cloud-based architecture connecting multiple assets or devices.
Software Hardware based. Internet is not needed to communicate between devices. Active internet connection and platform for data management required.
Communication Communication is limited between machine to machine or device to device. An unlimited number and mix of assets, devices and gateways can exchange data via cellular connectivity.

IoT solutions for any sector

Our success stories

Liberty Charge CS_Understanding IoT
Liberty Charge

Reliable on-street EV Charging with 4G

Liberty Charge utilises an un-steered roaming SIM solution to ensure continuous, reliable data collection from their EV charge points.

Just Eat CS_Understanding IoT
Just Eat

Enhancing customer satisfaction with IoT

Just Eat improved transaction speed, order reliability, and data monitoring using SIMPro.

IoT. It's not complicated with Wireless Logic.

Design and deploy a future-proof IoT solution that scales with your business.