The A to Z of wireless

M is for Machine-to-machine

M2M or machine-to-machine involves the communication of data between devices without human interaction. The idea is for devices to transmit small amounts of data that can be used to track items or control systems.

RFID (radio frequency identification) is one of the best examples of M2M tech with tiny chips that transmit data through antennae that can be picked up by devices that read the information in a similar way to a barcode.

The list from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more on each of the entries in the list.

A is for Antivirus
B is for Bluetooth
C is for The Cloud
D is for dotMobi
E is for Email
F is for FMC
G is for GPS
H is for HSDPA
I is for i-mode
J is for Japan Air
K is for Korea
L is for LBS
M is for M2M
N is for NFC
O is for Operating systems
P is for Pubs
Q is for QoS
R is for Roaming
S is for Satellite
T is for TV
U is for UMTS
V is for Virgin
W is for WiMax
X is for XDA
Y is for Yucca
Z is for Zigbee

A major use has been in retail to keep track of stock and manage supply chains. Instead of employing people to count goods, stock can be recognised from up to ten feet away.

A different way in which M2M could apply is for sensors to transmit information to control systems. For example, in a refrigerated lorry, sensors in the storage compartment could detect when the temperature is too high and communicate this to a device that could cool the compartment to the correct level.

The many uses for M2M mean that it looks like it will be a big tech in the future. By 2008, experts predict M2M tech could be generating around $20bn in revenue, with another $74bn going to service providers.

Read how RFID tech is ushering in an 'internet of things'.