M2M Wireless Devices Enhanced Through Red Bend/Telit Partnership

By Susan J. Campbell

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

An agreement has been announced between Red Bend Software, a provider of mobile software management and firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating solutions for mobile phones, and Telit Wireless Solutions SpA, an international provider of cellular m2m (machine-to-machine) technology.

 

Under this agreement, Telit has licensed Red Bend’s vCurrent Mobile client software for use in its m2m product portfolio. This non-exclusive agreement represents a significant new market opportunity for Red Bend within the growing m2m sector, which market research firm IDATE anticipates to be worth $285 billion and reach 500 million modules deployed worldwide by 2010. 

 

“The introduction of FOTA upgrade capability significantly increase value to our customers by reducing on-site visits and keeping recalls of remote applications to a minimum,” said Dominikus Hierl, president of Telit Wireless Solutions, in a statement.

 

“This is an important development for the m2m market where product lifecycles span 5 to 10 years. Having Red Bend’s vCurrent Mobile embedded in Telit solutions helps customers protect their investments by keeping them up with the latest software developments and changes.”

 

This agreement between the two companies represents new capability for m2m applications, including the elimination of manual field software updates, enabling cost-efficient remote application maintenance, and improving the reliability and lifespan of m2m modules.

 

The FOTA solution from Red Bend is positioned as providing a cost-effective, fast, secure and reliable method of wirelessly reflashing the firmware on mobile devices to ensure that software is up-to-date with the latest enhancements and features.

 

FOTA became a must-have feature on mobile phones in 2006, helping to propel Red Bend in the market. The company has its client software embedded in 58 mobile handset models used by 80 million consumers worldwide. By 2008, FOTA technology is expected to be available in 50 percent of all mobile devices, according to ARCchart, a UK-based research firm.

 

Red Bend Software CEO, Yoram Salinger, contributed that teaming with Telit Wireless Solutions opens tremendous growth opportunities fore Red Bend in an important and fast-growing segment of the wireless market. The savings in cost and even human safety with FOTA capability in m2m is compelling.

 

The partnering of these two technology companies is expected to benefit all those involved. The technology offerings that will result from their agreement will provide consumers with more efficiency, better service, less risk, and increased performance.

 

M2m applications have far-reaching capabilities that can be used in such industries as automotive, fleet management and transportation, utilities, retail and government or military. By providing those in these areas with better efficiency and remote software improvements, the demand for such deliverables will grow, creating greater market opportunities for both Red Bend and Telit.

 

---