ORBCOMM Inc. [Nasdaq: ORBC], a global satellite data communications company focused on two-way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, and Sierra Wireless [NASDAQ: SWIR – TSX:SW] announced an agreement to integrate innovative capabilities of Sierra Wireless’s M2M services platform (M2MOperatingPortal™) within ORBCOMM’s web services portal to enable customers to control their M2M services, devices, and communications.
ORBCOMM’s web services portal, expected to be commercially released in the first quarter of 2010, will combine comprehensive subscriber management functions with many innovative capabilities for device management, including:
- Customer control of devices and airtime subscriptions across the multiple networks offered by ORBCOMM, including ORBCOMM’s own proprietary satellite network and GSM and CDMA terrestrial networks.
- Customer-defined usage thresholds and alarms that allow customers to receive notifications when their devices reach the defined usage limit, giving customers greater control of overages and, therefore, their wireless service charges.
- Comprehensive control of remote devices and applications, including the capability to remotely update a device’s firmware and embedded applications over the air, representing significant control of devices.
- The portal will enable integrated dual mode services, which creates a single subscriber from multiple airtime subscriptions. ORBCOMM’s customers will also benefit from receiving one consolidated bill, reducing the complexity of invoice management.
“In terms of M2M, many aspects of this portal represent significant steps forward compared to what is currently available from many other carriers and operators,” said Marc Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer of ORBCOMM. “Comprehensive device management and diagnostic capabilities are critical for anyone deploying M2M solutions and can no longer be considered options. Sierra Wireless’s M2MOperatingPortal™ is a complete, scalable and secure M2M services platform. Partnering with Sierra Wireless takes ORBCOMM’s capabilities in this area to the state-of-the-art, allowing our customers to remotely administer firmware and software updates, troubleshoot application or connectivity issues and manage all aspects of their data communications.”
“ORBCOMM’s unique multi-network infrastructure is the ideal companion to demonstrate our M2M services portfolio capabilities, ranging from device management to hosting and operating of M2M applications,” said Emmanuel Walckenaer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sierra Wireless Solutions & Services. “ORBCOMM is in a position to capitalize on the growing demand for M2M enablement services, the layer of services that sits between network connectivity and the customer’s application.”
