This section provides an overview for m2m routers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 12 m2m router manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked m2m router companies as of September, 2024: 1.Mifi-Hotspot.nl, 2.Wherever SIM GmbH, 3.SME Computer.
Table of Contents
An M2M (machine to machine) router is a device that acts as a relay between devices and servers when various data collected by sensor devices at the end of the line are collected on servers for data processing.
For example, when multiple water level sensors are installed at multiple observation points to monitor the water levels of rivers and other bodies of water constantly, it is necessary to install wireless interfaces such as 3G and LTE to send data from the sensor devices to the server. As a result, each sensor device becomes very expensive.
M2M routers must be able to withstand a wide operating temperature range and be dustproof, as they will be used in harsh environmental conditions.
M2M routers are used in a wide range of applications, including surveillance, equipment control in factories, disaster prevention, distribution warehouses, and agriculture.
For surveillance applications, multiple cameras are installed around buildings in the city, condominiums, supermarkets, and even train stations, mainly for crime prevention purposes.
In factories, cameras are used to control various types of equipment, or to count and monitor the production status and number of products produced on production lines.
In distribution warehouses, M2M routers are used to check the availability, quantity, and management of inventory items.
The basic operation of a system using an M2M Router is as follows:
An example of a surveillance application is a surveillance camera system installed in a city. Here, the surveillance camera serves as the sensor device, which has a built-in wireless interface such as Wi-Fi, and sends the camera images to the M2M router.
The M2M router receives camera images from multiple locations, compresses the image data and processes it into a data format that can be easily processed by the server side, along with data indicating image attributes. It then encrypts and protects the data, and transmits it to the server over 3G, LTE, or other lines.
After processing the data sent from the M2M router as necessary, the data is made ready for analysis and displayed on a display.
The above is the flow of data transfer from the sensor device to the server side, but there is also a reverse direction. For example, when a suspicious person is found in the displayed surveillance image and further tracking is required.
Here, the surveillance camera on one of the sensor devices is oriented to track the suspicious person. To do this, the server will issue a "change direction" command to this surveillance camera. The command arrives at the M2M server via a line such as 3G or LTE.
Upon receiving this command, the M2M server identifies the camera(s) from which the server received the command from among multiple cameras, and forwards the command only to the camera(s) to which the command was sent. In this case, the commands are generally converted into commands that can be interpreted by the surveillance cameras.
When the camera receives the command sent from the server, it controls itself and changes the direction of the camera. In this way, the sensor device and the server communicate with each other via the M2M router.
An example of M2M communication is communication via the Internet using wireless communication means such as GSM, 3G, and LTE. These communication methods were originally used for human-to-human communication using mobile wireless communication networks. Later, they began to be used with the intention of expanding the market to include device-to-device communications.
M2M communications for device-to-device communications can be local, closed or wired communications in addition to the above communication methods. Considering cost and communication performance, communication between devices is realized by appropriately combining these various communication means.
IoT stands for "Internet of Things" and refers to the various objects in society that are connected to the Internet and can communicate with each other, etc. IoT is basically considered consisting of four components: data collection, data storage, data analysis, problem solving, and value creation. The difference between IoT and M2M is that IoT is connected to M2M.
The difference between IoT and M2M is in what it connects and how it connects: M2M refers to communication via the Internet, as well as direct machine-to-machine communication. On the other hand, IoT connects not only to machines but also to other devices and sometimes even to people.
Also, while the purpose of IoT is to collect and utilize information, the purpose of M2M is to collect information from and control machines. M2M is suitable when accurate information needs to be collected by sensors.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Top-Electronics USA is based in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and is a distributor of electronic modules and components that was established in 2016 as a subsidiary of the Dutch company TOP-electronics. The company stocks a range of electronic products from brands such as Northern Mechatronics, LM Technologies, and 2J Antennas. These products include motion control modules, internet of things (IoT) modules, and power converters. It also offers embeddable computers and displays, as well as spare connectors and cables for products on stock. The company mainly markets to its clients in the automotive, telecom, and consumer electronics industries.
Telit, established in 1986 and based in Irvine, California, USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The company's product range includes cellular 5G modules, cellular LTE modules, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth modules, positioning modules, and smart modules. These products are essential for enabling seamless connectivity and positioning in various IoT applications. Serving sectors such as device manufacturing, semiconductors, connected factories, and SCADA and HMI visualization, it also offers services in engineering and R&D, device compliance and certification, IoT security, and supply chain management.
Ranking as of September 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Mifi-Hotspot.nl |
9.3%
|
2 | Wherever SIM GmbH |
9.3%
|
3 | SME Computer |
9.3%
|
4 | XEXAGON Group |
9.3%
|
5 | Atel Electronics |
9.3%
|
6 | TOP-electronics USA |
9.3%
|
7 | D-Link Corporation |
8.2%
|
8 | Proroute Ltd |
8.2%
|
9 | Capestone bv |
7.2%
|
10 | WM NETWORK HOUSE KFT. /M2M NETWORK HOUSE KFT. |
7.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the m2m router page as of September 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
![]() |
2 | 18.2% |
![]() |
2 | 18.2% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |
![]() |
1 | 9.1% |