Yankee Group: Platforms - Setting The Stage For M2M Solutions

The Bottom Line
Getting an M2M solution up and running is not an easy task. M2M solution providers that leverage platforms can address both connectivity and application development needs and significantly decrease the time to market and the ease of operation of their products.

Platforms: Potential for a Horizontal Play in an Industry of Verticals
Historically, platform providers have been as specialized as the industries they serve. While there may be a myriad of M2M solutions and countless process models, most solutions have a common need for platforms to support hardware on a network and manage the data flow between these connected assets and the end-user. Platforms play a crucial role in the M2M life cycle, from the enablement of an asset with radios and sensors, to the provisioning and operation of an asset, to the development of a customized user-facing application.

Recognizing the potential to appeal to a more diverse client pool, some platforms with a core competency in asset connectivity are beginning to expand their functionality into application integration. In addition, new partnerships and joint ventures within the M2M arena are spurring the development of more complete platform offerings. This report details the roles connectivity and application development platforms play in the M2M market, as well as the underlying trends driving the integration of the two.