SAN DIEGO, Nov. 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the 3G CDMA Americas Regional Conference today, the CDMA Development Group (CDG) announced the creation of a Special Interest Group (SIG) focused on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, services and devices. The CDG Smart Wireless Modules and Services SIG will help to enable its member companies -- and their customers in various vertical industries -- to leverage the data capabilities of CDMA2000(R) and its evolutionary next-generation technologies. The SIG also aims to build upon the CDG device team's common set of requirements for embedded CDMA2000 devices to make the testing and certification process more open and streamlined across various operators' networks.
"Embedded wireless services are about to experience explosive growth, not only in vertical industries such as utilities, healthcare and fleet tracking, but also with consumer devices like e-readers," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "The CDG is intent on making the rapid growth of machine-to-machine connections over CDMA2000 networks as efficient as possible, especially for companies outside of the telecommunications industry."
The SIG announcement comes on the second day of the 3G CDMA Americas Regional Conference, which is focused on embedded wireless services and devices. The session highlights vertical industries that stand to benefit most from M2M communications and services, and provides specific details as to how streamlining device requirements, testing and certification will enable the expected influx of devices on CDMA2000 networks.
CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO are considered ideal radio technologies to enable M2M communications due to their ubiquitous coverage, bit rates, reliability and security.
"The embedded cellular M2M module market has fared reasonably well through the economic turbulence of the last 12 to 18 months," said Sam Lucero, Director of ABI Research's M2M Connectivity Practice. "Overall unit shipments in 2008 still showed positive growth at four percent and should be on track to grow by approximately 16 percent in 2009. Over the coming years, we expect the market to grow from about 25.7 million units shipped in 2008 to roughly 88.1 million units shipped in 2014."
More information about the CDG Smart Wireless Modules and Services SIG is available at www.cdg.org/M2M. More information about CDMA is available at www.cdg.org.
About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is a widely deployed 3G technology, with 308 operators in 116 countries and territories serving 494 million subscribers. Counting 2G cdmaOne(TM) subscribers, there are over 502 million CDMA users worldwide. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is a widely-deployed 3G CDMA (IMT-2000) solution offering mobile broadband to 128 million people across a wide range of devices. CDMA2000 has been chosen by operators in both developed and emerging markets, and is deployable in the 450, 700, 800, 1700, 1900, AWS and 2100 MHz bands. More than 2,320 CDMA2000 devices from over 122 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 548 Rel. 0 and 226 Rev. A devices on 114 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rel. 0 and 77 Rev. A systems. More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
About CDG
The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA2000 technologies. The more than 140 member companies of the CDG include many of the world's largest wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers. The primary activities of the CDG include development of CDMA2000 features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA2000-related matters.
The CDG logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2911
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