DoCoMo M2M tech to simply manufacturing, inventory-management tasks
Iain Morris
July 2, 2014
July 2, 2014
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo has taken the wraps of a new connectivity service that supports cross-border communications and should provide a major spur to organizations hoping to simplify manufacturing and inventory-management tasks by means of M2M technology.
The operator has unveiled an embedded SIM (eSIM) that will work on the mobile networks of various international operators for M2M devices used in connected automobiles, industrial equipment and other areas.
Normally, connecting an M2M device to a local mobile network requires a SIM offered by the operator, but DoCoMo’s (Tokyo, Japan) solution will allow a single eSIM to identify subscribers to multiple mobile operators.
The Japanese company says the technology is largely aimed at simplifying inventory-management tasks that have typically relied on operator-specific SIMs – a major advantage for transnational M2M enterprises and solutions providers.
Subscriber identities stored in the eSIM will be interchangeable as the user moves from one country to another with the M2M device, notes DoCoMo.
The operator says the eSIM will be available as an M2M solution for corporate customers using the DoCoMo M2M platform in Japan.
It is set to become available to business customers from the beginning of July 2014.
eSIMs have been gathering attention in the global M2M industry as a means of fostering the development and take-up of so-called cross-border services – and they are likely to have particular relevance to multinational asset-tracking and supply chain management applications.
NTT DoCoMo says it has been collaborating with the GSM Association – a trade group representing telecoms operators worldwide – on the establishment of an eSIM global standard, which was officially released in December 2013.
In future, the operator says it is committed to offering a range of advanced M2M services to Japanese and international business customers.
The operator has unveiled an embedded SIM (eSIM) that will work on the mobile networks of various international operators for M2M devices used in connected automobiles, industrial equipment and other areas.
Normally, connecting an M2M device to a local mobile network requires a SIM offered by the operator, but DoCoMo’s (Tokyo, Japan) solution will allow a single eSIM to identify subscribers to multiple mobile operators.
The Japanese company says the technology is largely aimed at simplifying inventory-management tasks that have typically relied on operator-specific SIMs – a major advantage for transnational M2M enterprises and solutions providers.
Subscriber identities stored in the eSIM will be interchangeable as the user moves from one country to another with the M2M device, notes DoCoMo.
The operator says the eSIM will be available as an M2M solution for corporate customers using the DoCoMo M2M platform in Japan.
It is set to become available to business customers from the beginning of July 2014.
eSIMs have been gathering attention in the global M2M industry as a means of fostering the development and take-up of so-called cross-border services – and they are likely to have particular relevance to multinational asset-tracking and supply chain management applications.
NTT DoCoMo says it has been collaborating with the GSM Association – a trade group representing telecoms operators worldwide – on the establishment of an eSIM global standard, which was officially released in December 2013.
In future, the operator says it is committed to offering a range of advanced M2M services to Japanese and international business customers.