Is M2M is not hype anymore? Eclipse changed the name and preferred IoT. In parallel it is interesting to follow the dialogs in several forums.
Some people really try to split in M2M and IoT. My point of view between the difference of M2M and IoT is as below:
M2M
In M2M a machine is communicating with another machine. If for example the machine is a truck, then the vehicle can be monitored or the dispatcher can forward new tasks to the driver. One M2M device is the tracking device in the truck and the other is the PC of the dispatcher or Security Company. In the old days most people used SMS as a bearer. Some of them used CSD. A rare number used DTMF. Later on we got GPRS, followed by UMTS, HSPA and LTE. This latest technologies are on IP. You can transfer the SMS by GSM modem or direct connect to the SMSC (several options). The CSD you could arrange by analogue modem, ISDN modem or cellular modem. And the M2M device in the field on IP (GPRS, UMTS, HSPA, LTE) is connected to the Internet, and for the connection to the Internet we all know different options.
In IoT everything is different.
IoT
In IoT a machine is communicating with another machine. If for example the machine is a truck, then the vehicle can be monitored or the dispatcher can forward new tasks to the driver. One IoT device is the tracking device in the truck and the other is the PC of the dispatcher or Security Company. For IP communication we have e.g. GPRS, followed by UMTS, HSPA and LTE. The SMS you can transfer by GSM modem or direct connect to the SMSC (several options with or without IP). The CSD you could arrange by analogue modem, ISDN modem or cellular modem. On top the CSD you can run IP. And the IoT device in the field on IP (GPRS, UMTS, HSPA, LTE) is connected to the Internet, and for the connection to the Internet we all know different options.
As you can see there are mayor differences to between M2M and IoT 😉
The word M2M was mainly used by the cellular operators worldwide. It is the data communication by using the cellular network. The cellular operators already started to cover business fields outside the cellular networks. Home appliance, home security and Ambient Assisted Living are examples for such applications. The cellular operators already sold one of the necessary equipment to us. We call this smart phone today. The smart phone is nothing else than one more machine in the concept. It is a machine in our hands with display. And the PC of the above mentioned dispatcher is a machine with display as well. And even if there is one machine without display that is communicating to another machine without display then there was always a gateway to a display in parallel. Somebody has to set up the parameter or somebody has to follow the processing data on a screen. In my opinion M2M of today is just a part of the IoT. The IoT could use a cellular network, but the mayor part will be on other new communication networks. A lot of the networks (P2P, star, meshed) will be private area networks (PAN) on for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, 6LoWPAN and a lot more. 6LoWPAN is the most interesting bearer because it covers the most bearers for now (wired power line communication, wireless on Sub GHz and wireless on 2400 MHz). A big part of the IoT will be on IP. Anyhow, the IoT will not be on IP only. We will need gateways. The European protocol M-Bus we get wired and wireless. This popular protocol is non IP. If we would like to connect the metering world, then a gateway is a must.
Eclipse renamed “m2m.eclipse.org” to “iot.eclipse.org”. I have done the same. I started to write a book in May 2012. I called it the “M2M Cookbook – How to develop a device based on wireless modules?”
Since a few months the title is “M2M / IoT Cookbook – How to develop a device based on wireless modules?” and maybe it is better to call it “IoT / M2M Cookbook – How to develop a device based on wireless modules?” With IoT in front of the title, I will get by alphabetical sorting a higher rank in a list for books. The word M2M is phasing out and IoT is phasing in. I assume I have to change the name of my book again. I will turn just two words and the content will be still the same. If you would like to have a look at the content and the first chapters then jump in here: http://www.gsm-modem.de/M2M/m2m_iot_cookbook/
Thought the same! IoT could be the new wave.
Quick google search shows m2m still as the winner:
iot: About 3,440,000 results (0.33 seconds)
m2m: About 6,050,000 results (0.71 seconds)
Comparison in Google trends:
http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=iot%2C%20m2m&cmpt=q
IoT only climbs slowly.
Personally, I would prefer WWW4 or similar:
WWW1 = early, static internet
WWW2 = dynamic internet (database + personalisation)
WWW3 = graphed, grassrooted, social internet
WWW4 = machined internet
best regards
Klaus Hildner
Klaus, thanks for feedback. Believe me or not, but I reamed my “M2M / IoT Cookbook” to “IoT M2M Cookbook” this morning. It was an easy task, because I printed it not on paper and it has no ISBN number for know.
Truly spoken, M2M is just a part of the IoT. In numbers M2M is smaller. In turn offer M2M is a much more interesting market. For a typical IoT application I can help with a bill of material (without battery) of Euro 2. For the Euro 2 you get the MCU, the radio transceiver, the antenna, the balun, the crystal and the PCB. Worst case the battery is more expensive. If we plan a high speed video camera on LTE, then the bill of material is Euro 100 quickly. So why a Field Application Engineer shall run for bill of materials in the near of Euro 2, if I can find BOMs in the near of Euro 100. The looser is the small customer. My monthly payment is financed on the selling of electronic components. If I consult you as FAE in the name of my employer, then this service is free of charge. By 1000 sets of components the BOM will maybe rise to Euro 3. Euro 3 is still nothing in comparison to Euro 100. Between Euro 3 and Euro 100 is the true.
Google needed several years to index 6,050,000 results for M2M. The 3,440,000 results they indexed in a much shorter time. Lets have a look on end of the year again. The gap between M2M and IoT will be closer and sooner or later Google will show more results in IoT than for M2M.