Partnership combines Tech Mahindra’s proven system integration capabilities with the ThingWorx M2M Enablement Platform, driving innovation and improving time-to-market for customers deploying Machine-to-Machine and Internet of Things applications
Exton, Pa. – May 14, 2013 – ThingWorx™ today announced a global partnership with Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of solutions and services to the telecommunications industry. This partnership will enable Tech Mahindra to deliver innovative Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions at minimized cost, risk, and time to market for its customers worldwide by utilizing the ThingWorx Platform – the industry’s first application development platform designed to reduce the effort required to build M2M applications for the emerging connected world.

The combination of Tech Mahindra’s proven system integration and solution delivery capabilities along with ThingWorx’s M2M platform allows customers to take advantage of a 10X improvement in solution development and delivery for connected applications. With industry leading companies estimating that the number of Internet-connected devices will reach 50 billion by 2020, business enterprises and telecommunications providers are seeing M2M as a new avenue for business growth and sustained revenue. While this partnership encompasses a wide range of industries and geographies, the initial focus will be around a Tier1 Telco’s hosting solutions.

According to Manish Vyas, Global Head, Business Development of Tech Mahindra, “After an extensive evaluation, we concluded that ThingWorx provides an innovative application enablement platform for delivering M2M and IoT solutions. The development advantage offered by ThingWorx will enable us to deliver innovative applications that are much richer in functionality, in a fraction of the time required with alternate approaches.”

“We are pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with Tech Mahindra”, stated Russ Fadel, CEO of ThingWorx. “Their global reach and M2M expertise, combined with the ThingWorx platform, will speed the adoption of innovative applications which we believe will be a catalyst for rapid growth in the emerging connected world. Our customers planning global rollouts of the ThingWorx platform will benefit from Tech Mahindra’s global reach and scale. We also envision broad consumption of the ThingWorx platform, enabled by Tech Mahindra, across many of the business sectors that make up The Mahindra Group. This partnership represents yet another step in ThingWorx’ global expansion plans.”

About Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra is a leading provider of solutions and services to the telecommunications industry with a majority stake owned by Mahindra & Mahindra Limited. Tech Mahindra serves telecom service providers, equipment manufacturers, software vendors and systems integrators worldwide and their proven delivery models, distinctive IT skills and decades of domain expertise enable clients to maximize returns on their IT investment. A SEI-CMMI Level 5 organization, Tech Mahindra’s development centers are ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2005, ISO 20000-1:2011 and ISO 22301:2012 certified. Tech Mahindra has principal offices in the UK, United States, Germany, UAE, Egypt, Singapore, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Canada and Australia. Tech Mahindra is part of the USD 15.9 billion Mahindra Group. The Mahindra Group employs more than 155,000 people in over 100 countries and operates in key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership.

For more information, see www.techmahindra.com

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For clarifications, write to us at: corporate.communications@techmahindra.com

About ThingWorx

ThingWorx™ provides the first platform designed to efficiently build and run the applications of today’s connected world. ThingWorx’s model-based design and search-based intelligence reduces application development efforts by 10X, minimizing cost, risk and time to market. The ThingWorx platform combines the key functionality of Web 2.0, search, and social collaboration, and applies it to the world of “things,” including connected products, machines, sensors, and industrial equipment. Businesses use the ThingWorx platform to rapidly deliver innovative applications and connected solutions across markets ranging from manufacturing, energy, and food, to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) remote monitoring and service, as well as in emerging Internet of Things applications, including smart cities, smart grid, agriculture, and transportation. For more information, please visit our website at www.thingworx.com and our blog at www.thingworx.com/blog or follow us on Twitter at @ThingWorx.

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ThingWorx’s Machine-to-Machine (M2M) platform enables next generation of application capabilities for Milbank’s smart building and home energy management solutions
Exton, Pa. – February 7, 2013 – ThingWorx™ announced today that Milbank, a leading developer and manufacturer of electrical devices and energy and power management solutions for the residential, commercial, industrial, utility, and transportation sectors, has selected ThingWorx to power its next generation PowerGen™ renewable energy product platform.

Milbank is utilizing the rapid application development tools, analytics engine, and machine-to-machine (M2M) technology provided by the ThingWorx platform to quickly develop the multiple role-based web interfaces and extensibility features for its PowerGen solutions. The combined technologies enable Milbank to provide unmatched versatility and functionality through its PowerGen product platform – simplifying future energy source integration for connected, energy efficient homes.

“ThingWorx’s rapid application development environment and flexible platform allow us to extend our PowerGen solutions in ways that provide the greatest benefits and value for our end users,” stated Chris Buelow, Milbank’s PowerGen general manager. “ThingWorx provided us the speed we needed to develop crucial, robust role-based user interfaces.”

In addition to the ThingWorx rapid application development tools, Milbank’s PowerGen solution leverages ThingWorx’s powerful analytics and search capabilities to further expand the core reporting capabilities offered through its proprietary online interface. Milbank will also use ThingWorx’s patented AlwaysOn connectivity for remote service capabilities, creating additional reliability and optimization.

“Milbank’s solutions represent the latest in innovation for smart buildings and homes, and we are pleased to be selected by them to power their PowerGen line,” stated Russ Fadel, CEO and Co-Founder of ThingWorx. “By certifying their solutions as ThingWorx Ready, Milbank is able to offer completely integrated solutions that take advantage of the latest in technology innovations and further extends the 5X to 10X development efficiency advantage that a ThingWorx-based solution offers.”

About Milbank
Milbank builds solutions that move power for the residential, commercial, industrial, utility and transportation sectors. Milbank combines more than 85 years of expertise in electrical product development with a commitment to advance and globally implement sustainable, integrated power solutions. Milbank’s portfolio includes electric metering systems, PowerGen™ wind and solar solutions, EVSE and portable power. A third-generation, family-owned business, Milbank is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, please visit www.milbankworks.com or follow us on Twitter at @MilbankWorks.

About ThingWorx
ThingWorx™ provides the first platform designed to efficiently build and run the applications of today’s connected world. ThingWorx’s model-based design and search-based intelligence reduces application development efforts by 5X to 10X, minimizing cost, risk and time to market. The ThingWorx platform combines the key functionality of Web 2.0, search, and social collaboration, and applies it to the world of “things,” including connected products, machines, sensors, and industrial equipment. Businesses use the ThingWorx platform to rapidly deliver innovative applications and connected solutions across markets ranging from manufacturing, energy, and food, to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) remote monitoring and service, as well as in emerging Internet of Things applications, including smart cities, smart grid, agriculture, and transportation. For more information, please visit our website at www.thingworx.com and our blog at www.thingworx.com/blog or follow us on Twitter at @ThingWorx.

Listen to an M2M podcast between a DIDX.net representative and Russell Fadel at http://www.didx.net/podcast/?p=episode&name=2013-02-07_thingworx_machine2machine.mp3. DIDX is a conference and exhibition media partner and a wholesale SIP DID phone number marketplace.

Mention phrases like Device Management and M2M (Machine to Machine), and sci fi visions may come to mind like Star War’s R2D2 Droid communicating with computers on the Death Star to find out where the Princess Leia is. But … there’s quite a practical side to it.

Abraham Joseph is the CEO and founder of Device Management Forum and M2M Insights. Our team met the technology expert at Mobile Content Summit 2011(by Virtue Insight) in New Delhi, and asked him to share the more of the practical side of device management and what does the Forum do?

Mr. Joseph’s summary: “The Forum brings together stake-holders in the device ecosystem to share best practices, collaborate on and capturing user requirements. It sponsors research. By “players” in the device ecosystem, I mean players who make different devices who write software, updates on firmware, updates of applications, and such …

A little bit about device management … we don’t think it is an end in itself. We think it is needed because people are using devices for business for playing games or whatever.

To be effective, the devices need to be managed in some shape.

I’ll give you a couple of examples.

First, if you are operator and you want to allow a new service, the first question you probably have is “what proportion of the device population would support this new service?”

It might seem like a trivial question, but in reality if you are a small operator, it could be that 50% of the devices on your network are not devices that you have issued. They have roamed on to your network and therefore, you need to provide some kind of service.

Second, if you are an enterprise, one of the things that you might be concerned about is … data security.

It has happened in the past that people leave their job, they put their Blackberry [for sale] on eBay with all kinds of sensitive information.

From the point of view of an enterprise, you might want to do is that the minute someone wants to leave your organization, you might want to wipe the device wherever it is … in their pockets, in their drawers, in their desks, wherever.

Those are the kinds of things that Device Management Forum (UK) is about.”

Since the February 2011 Summit was centered around “mobile content,” Yahya Sabir asked Mr. Joseph, to please explain its share in that topic.

“We don’t do anything particularly in Mobile Content. We operate news and information portals. We capture news about devices, security, and things like advertising. So whatever the devices are used for … applications. We have [pertinent] news related to that,” Abraham Joseph shared.He continued, “We provide content via portal, but we’re not a major producer of content. We capture news. We do interviews with industry experts such as Youth Mobile Alliances.”

In another interview at UK TI Communications in Shanghai, he noted mission there. “Several reasons really … as we know most of the world’s devices are being made in China. China itself is a humongous market for devices and applications using those devices. China is extremely interested in the next generation of device applications and has institutes focusing on M2M.”

India is currently home to about 1.15 billion people, representing a full 17% of the earth’s population. China encompasses 20% of the world’s population.  One in every five persons on Earth is a resident of China. About 62.8% of China’s population has a mobile phone, and 64.74% of India’s does (as of January 2011.)

Please consider making a donation to the American Red Cross for relief efforts in the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Disaster or the North Africa Middle East Civil Unrest or your local Red Cross chapter.

Get informed on the hot topic of M2M with Steve Pazol, CEO of nPhase and Suzanne Bowen, VP of DIDX and Techistan. Listen online or download to your netbook, laptop, smartphone or mp3 player.

Suzanne Bowen: Today we have with us, Steve Pazol. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO with a 20 + track record of successful startups in high technology. In 2003, Steve founded nPhase to provide machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless communications and smart services offerings across a wide variety of emerging market segments. In 2006, nPhase was acquired by Qualcomm and Steve continued his leadership as vice president and general manager for the Global Smart Services group in QES. In 2009, the group was spun off as a joint venture of Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless and reclaimed the name, nPhase. Steve serves as president.

A recognized thought leader and industry expert, Steve has written numerous articles in technology and trade journals and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and educational forums. He has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Chicago Innovation Award and was named one of the original 10 M2M Pioneers by M2M magazine at http://www.m2mmag.com/m2mnew/issue_archives/.

That’s really impressive, Steve.

Steve Pazol: Thanks very much.

Suzanne Bowen: M2M … this is kind of new for many of us. Also tell us a little bit about nPhase and its position as an M2M pioneer.

Steve Pazol: First, let me talk a little bit about what M2M is about (machine to machine). Really, what people are talking about … is connecting different kinds of things. For example, your car or your house or a medical device or a piece of industrial equipment. Another term for it is the Internet of Things. It is where everything is connected and all kinds of magical things happen. That is what nPhase does.

Some of the companies we have worked with in the past that are probably familiar … we were instrumental to the launching of the Amazon Kindle, the eBook Reader. The idea was to give a new and seamless experience, to get a book on demand and read it with a good quality experience.

We helped Amazon deliver that, put the Kindle into the market and deliver that wireless experience. Another example might be a John Deere tractor or a medical device that monitors your heart. We help companies that want to bring these products to market and want to deliver some kind of new product or new service. We help them do the connectivitys, so they can deliver wirelessly a different kind of user experience. That is what nPhase has done.

Recently what you have seen in the wireless marketplace… pretty much everybody has a cell phone these days. What has been happening is … the wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T and Sprint and Vodafone are looking for new markets to get into to be able to sell wireless services.

If your smart meter or your car or something like that needs a wireless subscription, that is a new market for them. Recently we spun nPhase out of Qualcomm as a 50/50 joint venture with Verizon Wireless. One of the big reasons is the carriers are really interested in going after this Internet of Things market, the M2M marketplace. Our technology lets them do that very readily.

An example would be today … a lot of cars have built-in GPS. Some of the newer ones even give you real-time traffic information.  There may be sensors out on the freeway that the traffic in Los Angeles is in such a state so go this alternate route. Some of them have subscriptions in communities where people may say, “Hey, there is road construction here, or there is a policeman waiting her to give a ticket.” So this will help you to know if you should slow down, speed up or avoid traffic in certain areas.

Your car GPS can be connected to all kinds of new information. Let’s take it a step further. I’ve got a couple of kids and a video player in the back of our mini-van. Look at info-tainment and sharing gaming… sharing things with your friends … bringing all that to your car really requires connectivity.

That is one consumer example. Another that is getting much press is the smart grid where you can manage electricity and not have to build new power plants. Just shed some of the load or turn off washers or dryers or non-critical equipment. When the temperature spikes, there is a lot of energy consumption.

The way this is done is to have a connection between the utility company and the home meter to be able to not only read the meter and see how much energy you’re using, but also to be able to turn off some devices if you subscribe to that service.

Almost every marketplace, such as that for medical devices, what happens is that people are in a hospital stay, they come home, and they participate in rehab and take medication or have a need to get some kind of regular treatments.  Many times if that treatment isn’t taken right, they will have to go back into the hospital. By remotely monitoring it, the person can be reminded to take the treatment, the doctor might be able to check in. If something is not working right, that fact might be caught quicker. In theory, this reduces medical costs and hospital stays.

Business models are and will change because of M2M with the way all parties can interact with it… as you start connecting people’s devices to help them with their lives.
Suzanne Bowen: So, I see the opportunities for the operators and providers. Obviously, consumers and organizations … this can be used for legal matters, education, no limits as to where M2M can be applied.

Steve Pazol: If you think about the Internet, people were not sure if the business models were going to be successful. M2M is not much different from the Internet of Things. It is just that there are a lot more things than people. The opportunity is large. It will take time to capture that opportunity.

Suzanne Bowen: Another question I was asked to ask you … are there any controversial aspects involved in Machine to Machine?

Steve Pazol: Yes. There are a couple that stand out to me. One is not really a matter of “M2M,” but instead where people are living their lives in public … there is the privacy issue. How much of one’s information and usage patterns does a person want to make public. It is his or her choice.

Your smart meter is connected to the utility. They can see when you are using power or when you are turning your TV on, etc. Even so, the standards are there.

(Suzanne Bowen, the interviewer was having to move from one building to another and was at Panera at this point. We had to delete one section because it was very difficult to understand the words, not enough bandwidth at Panera cafe, but their bagels are good.)

So, with the electrical grid … there has been much press on protecting and hardening our electrical infrastructure in case of terrorist attack or organized crime. Or it could be that something happens that is not intentional. Remember our electrical infrastructure is very old even in the USA. The interconnection of the electrical grid may not even be that well understood.

There are pros and cons. We can put different kinds of sensors out there. We can see performance. We can use video surveillance around critical assets. There are a lot of aspects along these lines that will help us harden the infrastructure.

Look, there are hackers. We need to make sure the security is up to snuff. The security issues with M2M are no different than around networking anything else on the Internet regarding information that needs to be highly secure. It is just that now, we are beginning to network the assets.

We need to make sure that people cannot do things that we do not intend. There is much investment potential around the security issues… that and the privacy issue.

Suzanne Bowen: I know that nPhase will participate in conferences. I think we will be going to two of the same, 4G World in Chicago and also CTIA Enterprise and Applications in San Francisco. Tell us what people have to look forward to with nPhase. I believe you a speaker?

Steve Pazol: We will participate actively at CTIA, speaking on the panel and then again at another time. We will talk about the applications and customers and some of the new announcements coming out regarding Qualcomm and Verizon. Then,  at 4G World, is in Chicago October 18, 2010. We’ll be speaking there about the higher speed networks and the capabilities and tying that into this Internet of Things into the M2M space.

Those are the two levels of conversations. We’ll have a decent size presence at the CTIA one coming up Oct. 6-8 in San Francisco.
Suzanne Bowen: CTIA is in 2010 in the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California from Oct. 6-8, 2010. Our company will be there at booth 244. Also 4G World is another conference you’ll be able to meet with nPhase. It is scheduled is October 18-21, 2010 at the McCormick Center in Chicago, Illinois. Our DIDX.net and Techistan magazine are media partners for both conferences. We will also be at ITEXPO West in Los Angeles, California, booth 143. It also has an M2M colocated conference. I’ll be speaking on a panel with Rodrigue Ullens of CEO of Voxbone and Bryan Hertz CEO of VoxOx – TelCentris during ITEXPO‘s VIPeering colocated conference.

Steve Pazol: If people want to get in touch, go to www.inphase.com with contact information and great reading material on M2M.

Suzanne Bowen: We are looking forward to seeing you guys. We appreciate your making more sense out of this concept of M2M. Some of those on our Techistan Facebook group who answered my questions in preparation for this podcast interview with you, said things like … is it science fiction?

Steve Pazol: (chuckles)

Suzanne Bowen: Thank you so much.

Steve Pazol: Thank you very much. We do appreciate the time.

Visit nPhase website. More on M2M on Wikipedia…

Telenor Group provides telecommunication services in 13 countries across Europe and Asia including Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Montenegro, Ukraine, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sweden, Finland, Serbia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia and India.  Its djuice, a youth based mobile phone plan, is in Norway, Hungary, Montenegro, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Telenor Connexion,  a leading global provider of managed M2M connectivity solutions, will take part in the CTIA Wireless conference and exhibition in Las Vegas March 23-25, 2010.

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication is a rapidly expanding market. Companies and industries as diverse as automotive, security, utilities and fleet management are implementing M2M solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and to expand customer services.

With over 10 years of experience and over 1,3 million active SIM-cards Telenor Connexion is often publicized by its partners and customers as experienced and reliable. Telenor Connexion has provided international, cost-effective M2M communication solutions to a number of global customers such as Volvo, Daimler and Securitas Direct. According to leading industry analyst Bergh Insight Telenor is “the most advanced mobile operator in the area of M2M” and also “the dominant provider of wireless M2M connectivity”.

M2M* or Machine to Machine refers to technologies that enable both wired and wireless systems to communicate with other devices of the same ability through a language that machines use to communicate with each other.  Some of the empowerment available because of M2M include fraud prevention, less CO2 emissions, increased safety in traffic and improved life for patients is enabled by the recently launched technical platform solely built for reliable M2M data communication. Products, devices and vehicles are increasingly equipped with embedded mobile connectivity to further enhance product offering, enable new services and cut costs.

Göran Brandt of Telenor Connexion will speak at the M2M Zone session “Devices, Mobile Transactions & Location based Services” on March 24^th at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N259 during CTIA Wireless.

* Encouraging all interested and informed parties to contribute to the Wikpedia article on M2M at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_to_Machine, before it is removed.

* Look for Techistan at booth 6574 at CTIA Wireless International for interviews and press for your company.