Last week I gave a presentation on the Internet of Everything at the CDMA Development Group’s (CDG) Smart Services Workshop which was held in conjunction with ITEXPO in Los Angeles. The half-day workshop, entitled “Building the Future with M2M,” featured a variety of ecosystem players, including wireless operators, application/middleware developers, platform providers, device/module vendors and vertical companies who shared ideas on what it will take to be successful in delivering smart wireless services across a number of vertical markets.
A central theme of the discussion was the role that 3G networks will play in enabling the Internet of Everything. This is due to the fact that 3G technologies provide greater capabilities and flexibility than 2G and proprietary mesh networks, including:
- Low latency for real-time, two-way communications
- High data rates for bandwidth-intensive applications and services
- Improved capacity for greater scalability
- Higher security levels due to 3G’s IP-based architecture (supporting leading Internet security protocols such as TLS/SSL and IPsec) and faster throughput rates (supporting better levels of encryption)
- Integrated GPS for location based services
Additionally, 3G networks will have a much longer lifecycle, helping to future-proof products and solutions and preserve investments. We expect 3G to be used in the form of direct (point-to-point) connectivity, as well as for backhaul connectivity to items such as gateways, concentrators and other short-range wireless networks.
Already today, a large number of companies are using 3G technologies to enable Internet of Everything connectivity, including OnStar/GM, Amazon, Garmin, Gardner Denver, Audi and Siemens Water Technologies.
The Internet of Everything is still in its infancy, but by leveraging the power of existing 3G networks we’ll help accelerate its growth.
