As we gear up for the M2M Evolution Conference, the collocated event at ITEXPO (News - Alert) East 2012 next week, the embedded M2M solutions space made some big splashes in the space as well this week.

Kicking off the week, embedded M2M solutions enabler Sprint announced that it signed a deal with Itron, Inc., Lanner Electronics, Inc.; Power Insight and Silver Spring Networks that establishes that the four companies will rely on Sprint’s (News - Alert) wireless network connectivity to support their automated products and services.

“With the rising demand for energy and natural resources, machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions give utilities and their customers a powerful emerging tool for managing demand and promoting sustainability," said Wayne Ward, vice president-Emerging Solutions Group, Sprint. "These new agreements underscore our continued commitment to the utility industry. Sprint has a dedicated team to fast track bringing M2M solutions to market. To date, Sprint has certified hundreds of M2M solutions and has millions of devices running on its network today."

The Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform supports multiple smart grid applications running over a unified network and leveraging common back-office software. It also allows utilities to focus on advanced metering, distribution automation and demand-side management, according to company officials.

Also this week, as revealed in a study by Beecham Research, Service Enablement Services (SES (News - Alert)) is positioned to become a key differentiator in the M2M market, increasing the total market value to $2.2 billion worldwide by 2014.

The past few years, M2M applications have become more and more ubiquitous although they still experience challenges with regards to interoperability and standardization. According to SES, the company has the ability to create a more open environment by improving interoperability between applications and that will give an impetus for growth in the M2M market.

“This is a rapidly-moving area. We have now looked at more than 60 platforms being offered in the M2M market, up from about 20 in our first study just 18 months ago, and we know of more coming soon, said Robin Duke Woolley, CEO at Beecham Research.

In other news, Arrow Electronics (News - Alert), a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions, has announced that it will now work as a supply channel partner for services and technologies from KORE Telematics, a wireless services provider specializing in the M2M communications market.

As established in the agreement, Arrow customers will now be able to take advantage of KORE’s M2M solutions. KORE is the newest member of Arrow’s large client base that includes 1,200 suppliers and 115,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 340 locations in 52 countries, according to company officials.

Want to learn more about M2M technologies? Then be sure to check out the M2M Evolution Conference, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012 taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. The M2M Evolution Conference is for industry professionals interested in capitalizing on a rapidly growing segment of the telecom industry. The M2M Evolution Conference embraces the any-to-any strategy of the Internet today. Co-sponsored by TMC (News - Alert) Partner Crossfire Media, it showcases the solutions, and examines the data strategies and technological requirements that enterprises and carriers need to capitalize on a market segment that is estimated to grow to $300 Billion in the year ahead. For more information on registering for the M2M Evolution Conference click here.

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