GPS and mobile communications are essential capabilities of any telematics solution. For a couple of years now, the manufacturers of wireless modules have been offering converged GSM/GPS modules. They have had trouble maintaining margins on the price of the converged package because everyone in the industry has knowledge of the market prices for the individual components and the wireless module companies have done a poor job of communicating any increased value that is provided by the converged offering. Last week, u-blox, the GPS solutions provider announced that it was acquiring Neonseven, an Italian based company that provides » Continue reading
Insight to the public perception of municipal telematics and M2M applications.
Yesterday’s NY Times’ Green Inc. blog had a posting by Laura Shin recounting the deployment of “Big Bellied, Text Messaging Trash Cans” in Somerville, MA. It’s heartening to see a mainstream media story that in a straight forward manner provides an overview of the many benefits of an M2M application (the texting trash cans) integrated with a telematics application (the management and routing of garbage trucks). What I think is really important about this posting is that it provides the perspective of politicians and government employees involved as to what they are trying to achieve and how they believe it is working out. I am also pleasantly surprised by the readers’ comments appearing » Continue reading