Data Plans & M2M

Multi Network Data Plans

Data plans for mobile devices are essential for allowing your employees to stay connected to your business, wherever they are. Having the wrong plan can result in massive additional bills for data usage and so having experts who can guide you through the selection process is essential. We build tariffs and plans specifically for your business, including plans with multiple network data SIM’s, ensuring you always have the best coverage and that you get everything you need without paying for the stuff you don’t.

Additionally we can look at your existing bills from another provider and tell you what savings could be made. If you think you’re being charged too much for data usage or if you’re receiving unusually high bill, we can help.

Our data plans aren’t just for phones, we can provide data plans for tablets, including unlimited BT and O2 wifi hotspot access, from less than £10 per month, allowing your mobile workforce to stay in contact with your business and on top of their work.

Machine to Machine (M2M)

Machine to Machine (M2M) communications refers to enabling the flow of data between machines and machines and ultimately machines and people. In addition to data plans for mobile devices, we can provide plans for M2M devices, such as vending machines, vehicles or even heating units. This technology allows both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices of the same ability and is abundant in everyday life. For example, through this technology, a vending machine can connect to a route drive to notify them when it is running low on supplies. Likewise, a car can remotely heat the interior 5 minutes before you leave to go to work in the morning.

Predating mobile voice communication, M2M technology is escalating in the business environment. At present, there are currently 5 billion devices connected to the mobile network, with an estimated 50 billion due by 2020.

How it works

As with many communication processes, although unique in every deployment, a standard rule generally applies. This consists of 4 common stages: collection of data, transmission of selected data through a communications network, assessment of the data and finally the response of the available information.

• Collection of data. This is where the monitored machine gathered necessary information. There are 2 types of machine in this category: a dumb machine (whereby it much be connected to directly) or an intelligent device (whereby it can be connected wirelessly – such as through a serial number). eg. Temperature sensor measuring milk.

• Transmission of data. Although there are many methods of transferring this data, the common ways are through cellular network, telephone lines and communications satellites (which tend to be expensive). These methods of transferring data is one reason why M2M is so ubiquitous: availability and ease of use. eg. The transfer of milk temperatures to an application (such as a software program).
• Assessment of data. This is useful is establishing algorithms or certain trends to help problems in the future. In terms of demand and supply (such as a vending machine) it will show the user peak times so when to stock up. eg. Supermarket receives a complaint of gone off milk. User can check data to see if it was stored at correct temperatures etc.
• Meaningful response. Whether the application is standalone or part of a larger system, the common goal is to automate a business process by automating the flow of data to the people and systems that have a need to know. M2M stops the need to do everything manually. eg. If found at correct temperature it’s most likely customer error. If not, supermarket is liable.

How it can help your business

Although the ability for machines to communicate is not new, nor is it new for them to communicate with other machines; it is the ubiquitous connectivity, paired with inexpensive electronic equipment and data plans that makes it so popular today.

Machine to Machine solutions enable real-time interpretation of data and data events. Leveraging this data helps businesses maximize operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. The technology can create efficiency, such as the case of the vending machine, whereby the need for human intervention (and therefore non-value added time) is decreased.

These opportunities are all relevant to businesses but need to be undertaken with strategic development, planning and deployment thoughtfully towards business outcomes and not as a panacea for organisational ills or means for supposed spikes in profit.

Implementation of M2M technology can be a useful tool to push forwards business strategy and process; bridging not just the intelligence gap in the machine with the communication network, but with the whole business and their customers.

Lister Unified Communications can connect your devices as well as providing data plans to allow them to communicate.