EverythingEverywhere is already making strides in the machine-to-machine (M2M) market, announcing its first deals less than a fortnight after launching a proprietary management platform.
The UK operator is opening the door to Europe for customers of US-based M2M enabler RACO Wireless through a partnership, and has signed up to a service alliance with France Telekom and Deutsche Telekom to guarantee the quality of service for RACO and other M2M customers.
One of the main benefits of the RACO deal is lower roaming costs for both firms, president John Horn says. “Our agreement… will provide our customers and partners with a solution for M2M connectivity across Europe that offers them the best roaming rates and the most advanced M2M management tools.”
The lower costs have been achieved through deployment of multi-IMSI capabilities, which allow a local SIM to be used. That localized approach should also ensure better coverage for roaming customers.
Marc Overton, vice president of EverythingEverywhere’s wholesale and M2M division, says the deals underline the firm’s ambition to lead the M2M market – allowing it to become a “one stop shop for international M2M capabilities.”
Informa Telecoms & Media senior analyst Jamie Moss says EverythingEverywhere is being bold by developing its own M2M management platform, but notes the time is right for the firm to make the move, as more operators seek to build vertical knowledge of M2M products and services.