CalAmp Announces M2M API at Mobile World Congress

CalAmp has announced a new API (Application Programming Interface) for mobile-to-mobile (M2M) applications at Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) in Barcelona, Spain.

"With this new M2M API now part of our broad device portfolio, our customers can readily expand and tailor the capabilities of our wireless devices for their particular application and offering," said Greg Gower, senior vice president and general manager of CalAmp’s MRM business. "This capability enables a number of value-added features such as driver logs in fleet management, safety analytics in personal and commercial auto insurance, and machine protocol support for various industrial applications."

With the API, developers can quickly and easily interface with the company's M2M products. Beside fleet management, CalAmp (News - Alert) sees applications for the API in insurance, remote monitoring of industrial operations, vehicle tracking, remote recovery of stolen vehicles and remote unlocking and starting of vehicles.

The API will also be compatible with Android (News - Alert) and Linux-based projects.

The first products to include the API are the LMU-4220 and the LMU-4520. The former is a device intended for high-value fleet management, while the latter is ruggedized and targeted toward mining and construction projects.

The API can be downloaded over the air using CalAmp's PULS configuration management system.

The company has also signed a deal with Caterpillar to supply Vanguard mobile wireless broadband routers for CDMA and GSM networks, which M2M still relies on.

"Robust and reliable, Vanguard offers ubiquitous operation and carrier network redundancy, as well as broad versatility for connecting both remote fixed and mobile assets to enterprise applications," said Mike Zachan, vice president and general manager of CalAmp's Wireless networks business, earlier in February. "We are looking forward to helping Caterpillar realize its broad objectives for enhanced services and product innovation."

The router will help Caterpillar connect with devices located in remote areas anywhere in the world.