MACAU, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The GSMA, the global trade body for the
mobile industry, and Huawei, a leading provider of next-generation end-to-end
telecommunications solutions, have joined forces to help the mobile industry
realise the huge potential market for consumer and industrial goods that can
connect to 3G mobile networks. Huawei has joined the GSMA's Embedded Mobile
initiative, which will initially focus on bringing the benefits of continuous
mobile connectivity to the consumer electronics, clean energy, healthcare,
transport and utilities sectors.
Devices with embedded mobile connections can automatically exchange
images, information and other data with mobile phones, computers or the
Internet, enabling people, businesses and society as a whole to function more
efficiently and effectively. The Embedded Mobile initiative is being led by
KTF, Rogers Wireless, Smart, Softbank, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telstra and
Vodafone. The GSMA will bring other operators, equipment suppliers and
manufacturers of consumer and industrial goods into the Embedded Mobile
initiative.
"Our ultimate goal is that every machine, device, object will have
broadband mobile connectivity. Everything around us will be using mobile
networks to exchange information with each other and with the Internet," said
Rob Conway, CEO and Member of the Board of the GSMA. "There are many possible
applications: Connected cameras could automatically upload photos to Web
sites, cars could regularly send detailed performance information to
mechanics, while sensors could transmit emissions data direct to computer
systems monitoring the environment."
The Embedded Mobile initiative aims to foster collaboration among consumer
electronics and industrial product manufacturers to spur adoption, while
developing common technical standards and platforms. The initiative endeavours
to aid equipment suppliers to achieve greater economies of scale in order to
bring down the prices of 3G modules that can be embedded in cars, cameras,
health monitoring devices, environmental sensors, energy meters and many other
machines. This work will complement and expand the existing market for
embedding mobile connections into machines.
One of the first priorities will be to develop a common application
programming interface (API) that consumer goods manufacturers will be able to
use to make their products compatible with many different 3G mobile networks.
"We are very glad to work with the GSMA to develop the new commercial
applications for mobile broadband. Based on our great success with mobile
broadband terminals, we have no doubt that this collaboration will drive
further development of the industry," said Edward Chen, CEO of Huawei
Communication Technologies. "Huawei has shipped more than 20 million sets of
mobile broadband terminals and will continue to play an important role in the
future products and solutions for the module market."
"With a broad global coverage of mobile broadband connectivity, the
embedded mobile market now can reap the benefit of greater economies of scale
as mobile broadband can be used anywhere in the world," said Dr. Terry Ahn,
Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development at KTF. "The value
of networking will increase exponentially as human and machines, machine and
machines can communicate. This market presents great growth opportunities not
only to the mobile industry but also to other related industries."
"Mobile penetration can and should eventually rise to several hundred per
cent as everything from cars to cameras to health monitors to industrial
sensors become connected to mobile networks, enabling them to automatically
send images, information and other data to their owners," said Mike Short,
Vice President of Research and Development at Telefonica Europe, the parent
company of O2. "But realising this vision depends on the industry taking a
common approach that will enable manufacturers to achieve economies of scale.
This GSMA programme is an important step in that direction."
"Affordable devices that can connect faster and help deliver relevant
services to subscribers have an important place in our strategy. These devices
with embedded 3G mobile connectivity modules will play a crucial part in
pushing the conventional boundaries of our business through services that can
make a difference to the lives of people," said Napoleon L. Nazareno,
President and CEO, SMART.
About Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
Huawei Technologies is a leader in providing next generation
telecommunications networks, and now serves 35 of the world's top 50
operators, along with over one billion users worldwide. The company is
committed to providing innovative and customized products, services and
solutions to create long-term value and growth potential for its customers.
For more information, please visit http://www.huawei.com
About the GSMA
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing
more than 750 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries and territories
of the world. The Association's members represent more than 3 billion GSM and
3GSM connections - over 86% of the world's mobile phone connections. In
addition, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's
initiatives as key partners. The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure
mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible,
enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while
creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers.
For more information, please visit http://www.gsmworld.com
