VZW-Qualcomm name JV focusing on M2M biz

Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm Inc. announced their joint venture company focusing on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications would be named nPhase and headed by the original company’s president, Steve Pazol.
Qualcomm bought nPhase three years ago and renamed it Qualcomm Global Smart Services. The 50-50 joint venture with VZW was announced late last month.
As carriers reach penetration rates of more than 90%, they are looking to the nascent M2M space to continue to grow revenues. Indeed AT&T in May announced a multiyear deal with M2M provider Jasper Wireless to connect consumer and M2M devices to the AT&T network.
“When we originally selected the name nPhase back in 2002, we knew this industry would be constantly changing and evolving, and we felt the name nPhase communicated this concept,” said Pazol. “We have been very fortunate to have been a part of Qualcomm for the last three years. Now with a 50-50 joint venture between Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm, we look forward to providing M2M wireless communication and smart service offerings to this rapidly growing market.”