NSN, Everything Everywhere agree to global M2M deal

Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and Everything Everywhere (EE) have agreed to a partnership deal to focus on providing vending machine owners with M2M services.

The agreement will see NSN and EE offer to connect vending machines using NSN's VendMe application and EE's SIM cards throughout the U.K. and across markets covered by France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom's international footprint.

The two firms claim that the combined M2M service can boost the revenues of vending machines by increased customer interaction and multiple payment methods, while reducing costs through remote stock monitoring.

Vending machine owners will also be able to send targeted messages to consumers in the vicinity of a "smart" vending machine, and interact with customers via social networks. EE will enable its NFC-based Orange Quick Tap service so that purchases can be made from the machines without using cash.

Marc Overton, VP for wholesale and M2M at EE, said in a statement that vending was just one of many areas where the carrier is looking for additional opportunities outside the telecoms business. "There is great potential for M2M technologies to provide companies operating internationally in all sectors with instant access to data, making businesses run better and improving the customer experience."

"With half-a-million vending machines across the U.K. and many millions more around the world, we see a great opportunity to use mobile broadband and our customer experience management expertise to offer an improved experience," said NSN's head of its M2M business unit, Bernd Gross.

For more:
- see the Nokia Siemens Networks release

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