Sprint announced in late April its Command Center 2.0 for machine-to-machine solutions. The original Command Center has been around for four years, but the new offering is what is driving industry attention to Sprint in the M2M space – providing connected device support and a global SIM in over 200 countries. More evidence that the time is finally right for M2M.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agHhj_2FZDc
I had a chance to catch up with Sprint in London last week at the M2M World Congress. Yes, London. It was surprising to see Sprint, a U.S.-oriented operator, taking such a large role in an event located in and focused on the EMEA market – a topic I asked them about. With the inclusion of a global SIM in its solution Sprint is able to help companies support their connected devices across global geographies. But that doesn’t mean it is going after customers in the markets without a U.S. presence. The strategy is to be able to support U.S.-based companies that want to expand outside of the country and companies located in other geographies that want to expand into the U.S. There will always be a U.S. component required for the customer opportunity to align with the strategy.
The solution focuses on three primary verticals – retail, transportation and insurance. 
In addition to the reporting, billing and activation support Sprint provides, it also works with individual companies to help them create their own systems specific to their requirements. As part of the public announcement of these tools, four customer examples were provided showing how the functionality is being utilized across the key verticals.
- SoftBank – The ability to ensure uniform performance of devices globally regardless of the RAN technology in use.
- Tollgrade Communications – Remotely managed smart-grid sensors to offer a higher level of service to utility customers.
- SecureNet – Customizable smart home services enabled by Sprint via the preactivation/billing platform allows for remote testing, data validation and to ensure performance of the end device, module, network and data center.
- Speedshield – Industrial vehicle safety platform management.
It’s important to see more and more network operators entering this space with cohesive solutions. As M2M becomes a day-to-day reality, there are more opportunities for service performance issues and data breaches that fall right into the core competencies of network operators. Whether they provide these services directly to businesses or behind the scenes in a white-label fashion to M2M service providers; there must be linkage among the network, the devices and the management of the data to have a positive outcome for all involved.
Like what you read? Follow me on twitter!
Claudia Bacco, Managing Director – EMEA for RCR Wireless News, has spent her entire career in telecom, IT and security. Having experience as an operator, software and hardware vendor and as a well-known industry analyst, she has many opinions on the market. She’ll be sharing those opinions along with ongoing trend analysis for RCR Wireless News.
