M2M: 3G taking on WiMax

Machines are gearing up to take over 3G, analysts believe, as M2M increasingly shifts away from older radio technologies - but the third-gen tech will still have to compete hard against the likes of WiMax.

According to industry watchers ABI Research, as machine-to-machine communications move away from analogue, 2G and 2.5G many have predicted a wholesale transfer to 3G. The researchers believe, however, 3G will only reach 30 per cent penetration of M2M connectivity as third generation tech may mean greater potential cost for end-users and the likelihood that mobile operators will not be able to provide ubiquitous geographical coverage.

Instead, WiMax and municipal wi-fi will also play a big part in M2M connectivity, the researchers believe.

Among the applications likely to favour other flavours of wireless broadband over 3G are those where transmission speed outweighs the increased cost, including wireless CCTV, remotely updating information on digital display advertising and telematics using real-time navigation information.

Others, including analysts Berg Insight, believe GSM will be the favoured technology for M2M as mobile devices increasingly move to 3G. Machines will make up 25 million M2M connections to mobile networks by 2009, the company predicts.