An Inside Look at M2M Asset Tracking Worldwide
Quake’s M2M Technology
3 weeks ago
Quake is at it again! From land to sea to space, we have our modems in everything M2M.
In collaboration with ‘The Lagrangian Drifter’ at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Quake satellite modems are being used to track the debris drifting from the Pacific. Shown here is an actual plot from some of the buoys.
QUAKE NAMED FINALIST IN 2012 CTIA E-TECH AWARDS
1 month ago
in Conferences
QUAKE GLOBAl was named a finalist in the Transportation and Fleet category of CTIA’s annual Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Awards competition. The CTIA E-Tech Awards honor the most innovative new products in 15 categories spanning the areas of mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and infrastructure.
Hundreds of entries were judged by a panel of recognized industry experts, media and analysts and scored on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall “wow” factor.
The Q-Pro is a small, rugged, environmentally-sealed module with numerous customization options including network access, inputs/outputs, memory and an application programming interface (API), and now complete with the option of 3G. The Q-Pro delivers reliable one or two-way data communications through the ORBCOMM®, Iridium® and/or Globalstar™ constellations of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, as well as through terrestrial GSM networks. Designed for multiple applications, the Q-Pro is a flexible solution that can be utilized by both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and low-volume users. This self-contained solution is also a great option for any developer that is facing an accelerated time-to-market requirement.
M2M in the Military
1 month ago
A military friend of mine was just deployed. He’s going to be gone for quite a few months, and it’s going to be hard, but I know he will return safely.
Preoccupied in my thoughts at work today, thinking about my friend, an order was placed for a company that will use our modems in their military vessels. Then realization kind of hit me: that palm-sized modem, no bigger than a cell phone, could very well be protecting my friend from danger. And not just my friend, but someone’s mother, or brother, or kid. Today, Quake modems are being utilized in ocean vessel detection buoys, military vehicle tracking, even aircraft tracking. What will they think of next?
In the commercial sector, M2M modems are often used to track and monitor assets, equipment, materials, cargo and supplies. But, there are many jobs and tasks that use people inefficiently or in potentially dangerous environments, including the military. These situations should almost require M2M utilization. Think about it, if you could save a person’s life, just by integrating M2M into your business, wouldn’t you?
Quake Global vs. Global Warming
1 month ago
in M2M
Almost every week I try to give you some insight into how Quake modems can help you with your assets. I got a new one this week.
So, there’s this constant debate over whether or not Global Warming is all a big scam or not. For all of you living under a rock the past few years: Global warming describes the rise in temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere due to the release of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The impact of this greenhouse effect could be detrimental. Global warming causes ozone depletion, melting polar ice, and rising ocean levels.
Since I was visiting New York last week and it hit somewhere around 80 degrees in March, let’s humor this notion of Global Warming for the sake of this blog entry. (Keep in mind normal March weather in New York is somewhere between blizzard and lake effect snow, so 80 degrees felt like a sauna.)
Believers in Global Warming say the best thing you can do to reduce global warming is to reduce your waste. That’s a great idea, right? You’re recycling at home, using less heat and energy, changed all your bulbs to the ones that are energy friendly? But the question is, what about your business?
Take a lead from several Quake Global customers who are lowering their own carbon footprint. By utilizing our m2m communicators, such as our Q4000, companies are able to do less driving which means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, when you do drive, or operate machinery, you need to make sure your asset is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget; it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. You can also monitor your idle time, which everyone knows is harmful to the environment, and many states are implementing laws restricting idle time and emissions.
That’s just a few ideas I have about using Quake to help with the epidemic. I’d be curious to hear some of your ideas.
The Need for Regulation in the World of M2M
2 months ago
Regulation large obstacle in asset tracking
Beth Principi
March 7, 2012
On Tuesday at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, the M2M Zone got a chance to speak with David Wigglesworth, vice president of data services at Iridum, on topics surrounding machine-to-machine (M2M) technology in satellite communication. One major sector of M2M that Iridium is involved in is asset tracking, and according to Wigglesworth, the largest obstacle facing asset tracking today is regulation.
There are currently no common standards governing asset tracking, which makes the process of getting regulatory approval in different countries a long and sometimes tedious task.
For example, if Iridium (McLean, Va., USA) wanted to place one of its transceivers in another company’s application in the U.S., if would first have to get the transceiver certified by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Once the FCC certified the transceiver it would then be placed in another company’s application, which that company would have to have certified by the FCC. This is only a U.S. example, while other countries have different standard bodies and regulation requirements that are not universally accepted across the globe.
According to Wigglesworth, there needs to be a common standard that simplifies certification of hardware and products in order for asset tracking to be more easily deployed. The European Union helps because a common standard stretches across the EU countries, says Wigglesworth.
Despite the regulation burden on the asset tracking industry, Wigglesworth did say that the sectors with the greatest potential in the future include the heavy equipment and transportation businesses.
Iridium has also begun to license out its technology instead of strictly selling it. The company recently signed a licensing deal with Quake Global (San Diego, Caliif., USA). According to Wigglesworth Iridium is not looking to license out their products to all their partners, but the right ones.
“The M2M world for satellite is quite large,” says Wigglesworth. “We will see a lot more growth of out it in the future.”
As seen on: http://www.telecomengine.com/article/regulation-large-obstacle-asset-tracking
“Worldwide Monitoring Tools for Industrial Giants Made Locally”
2 months ago
I was digging through some old Quake articles and I found this one that ran in the San Diego Union Tribune a little while ago and I wanted to share it with you.
Quake Global, Inc: Worldwide Monitoring Tools for Industrial Giants Made Locally
“A major automobile manufacturer tracks a fleet of its vehicles as they make their way to
dealerships thousands of miles away. From an office building in London, technicians for
a major petroleum company monitor offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. From a command
post, U.S. Forestry officials prevent fires by monitoring conditions in a variety of
remote locations. The aforementioned are just a few examples of advanced….” Click here to read more
How can you utilize M2M technology?
3 months ago
in M2M
Analysts are constantly predicting a huge boom in M2M. As soon as companies realize that M2M can be utilized to increase their ROI, and substantially increase their profit margins, the M2M market will skyrocket beyond anything we ever imagined.
Hardware and connectivity costs have come down, and the ever changing and adapting products are continually being developed. Take Quake Global’s latest innovation: the Q4000. With the latest availability expanding to the Iridium network, the Q4000 is an efficient, low cost, rugged modem perfect for any application. With the Q4000’s usable networks literally covering the entire globe, you don’t have to worry about roaming or loosing data. Customers are not yet aware of the positive impact integrating M2M technology into a business plan can have, both financially and through customer satisfaction. (Let me make this simple: Happy customer= customer who buys more + customer who spreads the good word about your company= profit.) The Q4000, along with every other Quake modem, works across industries, equally useful for state or government monitoring and even for the smaller consumers such as a local farmer who wants to track and monitor where his employees are harvesting. Currently, our modems are operated in vehicle and trailer tracking, heavy equipment monitoring, cold storage management, fleet management, and mobile workforce management. We are even used in asset tracking for aviation, maritime, trucking, rail, utilities, oil & gas, and military and government use.
So get on the M2M track, where do you want to see Quake modems? What can you use M2M for?
First Iridium® Chipset-Based Modem – the Q4000 – Now Shipping
3 months ago
in M2M
Thanks to Iridium360 who posted this excerpt on their blog:
Iridium has certified the first fully integrated, dual-mode modem for the Iridium network. Developed by Quake Global Inc., the Q4000 is the world’s first communications device manufactured by an Iridium partner based on an Iridium chipset.
The size of a smart phone, the Q4000 is a self-contained, highly configurable and fully programmable global machine-to-machine communicator that customers can easily integrate into any asset tracking solution and it offers increased reliability, product flexibility and economic benefits.
Get all the details on this latest addition to Quake’s extensive modem portfolio for asset tracking and remote two-way communications here.
Who’s Who in M2M
3 months ago
in M2M
NE2NE.com Announces the “A-List in M2M Awards” Recipients – Who Made the List and Companies to Watch
Compass Intelligence and NE2NE.com announced the official list of recipients of NE2NE’s A-List in M2M Awards, which recognizes the top vendors in the M2M market by category. NE2NE.com’s A-List in M2M honors organizations at the pinnacle of the M2M world, and includes those companies who offer the best and finest M2M products, services, and service enablement solutions in the industry.
Quake Global was identified as “Companies to Watch in M2M”, others include: Echelon, Ecotality, Gemalto (Cinterion), ILS Technology, Iridium, Telit, ThingWorx, ublox, and Viewbiquity.
Award recipients were evaluated, interviewed, and vetted by the Compass Intelligence Mobile & Wireless analyst team. The list was then narrowed based on criteria such as product launches, R&D spending, products under development, product features and modifications, etc. Next, a panel of independent experts including editors, analysts, and consultants voted via an online ballot. The criteria used in evaluating 2012 A-List in M2M entries include vision, strategy, leadership and governance, organizational structure and alignment, key customers, partnerships, processes, openness, operational and financial metrics, and other qualitative factors.
Congrats to everyone who participated!
