About M2M

What is M2M?
Where is M2M technology used?
What are the benefits of M2M?
What makes up an M2M solution?
What makes a successful M2M deployment?
How does it work?
What are the benefits of wireless M2M?
How do wireless M2M machines communicate?
What is a Private APN?
Why does Wyless use Private APNs?
What is Private Fixed IP technology?
What are the benefits of Private Fixed IP technology?
Can I control the connectivity to my devices?
How do I start working with Wyless?



What is M2M?

M2M stands for machine-to-machine technology and is based on the concept of allowing devices or sensors to "talk" to each other or to another computer or server over a network.


Where is M2M technology used?

M2M provides benefits to many applications, across various industries, such as Asset Monitoring, Utilities, Transport, Retail and Security. To find out more, please go to the Industry Sectors section of this website, or click on the Wyless in Action menu to see case studies and typical applications.


What are the benefits of M2M?

Enabling remote and / or mobile machines to communicate with a central server using M2M technology has many benefits:

• Decision-making - gathering real-time data from remote assets enables faster, more informed decision-making
• Operational – improving the efficiency and control of resources reduces operational costs;
• Environmental – streamlining monitoring processes minimises wastage;
• Financial – new service-based offerings provide new sources of revenue


What makes up an M2M solution?

Usually, an M2M solution is made up of several components:

• Device(s) or sensor(s) to collect data and/or monitor changes
• A central server to send and / or receive data transmitted by the device(s) or sensor(s).
• Connectivity (either fixed line or wireless) to connect the device or sensor to a central server.
• A modem to allow data exchange between the device(s) or sensor(s) and the central server.
• An application and database to process the data sent and received
• An application to ensure security of the data transmitted and to monitor and manage the connectivity to the device or sensor network.


What makes a successful M2M deployment?

Like any IT deployment the management of people, process and technology is critical in determining the outcome of the project. An M2M project is no different, and can be more complex due to the number of different parts needed to be integrated together. The key success factors are:
• A defined business need
• A clear understanding of how M2M technology can make the link to business benefit
• A proof of concept and trial with detailed technical and commercial objectives
• A project champion
• An understanding of the risks and a means to manage them


How does it work?

M2M can be provided through either fixed line or wireless connectivity, and is used for both fixed and mobile devices. Typically, connectivity can provided over either a GSM/GPRS network, fixed line telephone network (PSTN), satellite or the Internet.


What are the benefits of wireless M2M?

• Flexibility
Devices that are wirelessly connected to a network are not limited to a physical location. This gives you the flexibility to move them should you need to, for example if a vending machine is not getting much footfall and therefore revenue in one location, you can simply place it elsewhere. Devices in remote locations where it’s difficult to run cables can also be attached to a wireless network quickly and easily.

• Mobility
Mobile devices can connect into a network, which is not possible with a fixed line network, allowing data communication with all devices.

• Access to information
Wireless networks deliver real-time information to mobile devices enabling information to be received or sent whenever and wherever it is required, so organisations have access to live information for effective and fast decision-making.

• Independent network
A wireless network can be quickly and easily deployed into a building or location without the need for integration with the existing fixed line network, thereby delivering an independent secure network.

• Speed
A wireless network can be deployed much more quickly than a fixed network as no cabling is needed between devices. This in allows devices to be active more quickly and can provide cost savings.

• Cost
There are cost savings related to the speed of deployment, the elimination of cabling costs, and the reduction in communication costs, as GPRS is more cost effective than PSTN/fixed line.

• Space
The lack of cabling keeps areas free of clutter and eliminates the risks associated with cabling (overheating, health and safety etc.).


How do wireless M2M machines communicate?

M2M wireless solutions use wireless modems to communicate using 2.5G/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or the faster 3G mobile network, GPRS is “always on”, allowing it to communicate data immediately, and at much higher speeds. GPRS is billed according to the amount of data used and not the amount of time the connection lasts.

The wireless device communicates over the wireless networks through an APN (Access Point Name) at the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) to the customer’s firewall and onto a central server for processing. The standard MNO offering uses a general APN, so all customers use the same APN, and dynamic IP addresses on the devices i.e. the IP address keeps changing each time it communicates over the network.

Wyless uses private APN’s to increase security, enables the allocation of individual Private Fixed IP addresses for devices, which in effect creates a private network for end-to-end security of the data being transmitted.


What is a Private APN?

An APN is the access point to a GPRS network and identifies and authenticates the traffic trying to access the network. A Private APN provides the benefit of being able to have control of which devices connect through to you network.


Why does Wyless use Private APN's?

Wyless uses Private APN’s to have maximum control and security over connections to the network and enables customers to establish a secure end-to-end connection from their infrastructure to the remote devices. A Private APN means that the firewall is configured to allow only those devices from the Private APN and not all traffic from the general/public APN.

Wyless goes a stage further by allocating Private Fixed IP addresses to devices, so in effect they appear as though they are directly connected to the local area network. With Wyless, the customer can even select the IP addresses to avoid duplication.


What is Private Fixed IP technology?

An IP address allows computers to communicate with one another on a network. An IP address can be private, for use on a LAN, or public, for use on the Internet or other Wide Area Network.

A static or fixed IP address is created when a user is guaranteed - by either their Internet Service Provider or IT Administrator - to have the same IP address every time they connect to the Internet. If this is available in the public domain, it is known as a Public Fixed IP address. This is the typical configuration if you have a PC connected to the Internet.

However, devices on wireless networks,, such as mobile phones and M2M devices are assigned a dynamic IP address by the Mobile Operators. If the IP is not available in the public domain, it is known as a Private Fixed IP address. Wyless allows you to have a Private Fixed IP address for your mobile and remote devices.


What are the benefits of Private Fixed IP technology?

The use of Private Fixed IP addressing offers the benefits of true two-way communication; data transfer can be initiated from either the device or the server. Without Fixed IP addressing the devices can only communicate with the server, but no messages or updates can be sent to the device, without first waking the device up by sending an SMS or making a data call. The outcome is that data usage is far more efficient and cost effective, as there is no need for "keep-alives" or SMS "wake-up" calls.

Security is also enhanced as the Private nature of the IP address means that the risk of SPAM or Denial of Service attacks is reduced. Combining the increased security, the reduced data usage and more efficient communication means that the overall Total Cost of Ownership is reduced.


Can I control the connectivity to my devices?

Up to now, there has been no means of monitoring or controlling your connectivity across multiple operators in multiple countries. With Wyless, you gain real-time visibility and control over your wireless network, using the Wyless Management Platform. This Internet-based portal allows you to check the connectivity of your devices, wherever they are in the world, and provides you with management tools to seamlessly control your SIMs and connections.


How do I start working with Wyless?

It's simple – whether you're a systems integrator looking to build connectivity into your solution, a hardware provider or an end user , please call us on +44 (0)870 351 1902 or email us at info@wyless.com

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