One wireless technology standard being used is a point of sale and retail management platform, which has already been implemented in 4,500 retail locations around the world. This wireless solution has been designed to help retailers with rapid changes in inventory, and offers a variety of products and services all from a central point of sale.

Wireless sensor networks are becoming very popular technology; however it is very important to understand the architecture for this kind of network before deploying it in any application.

Smart metering is expected to be installed throughout the UK from 2014, and every home should have the technology installed by 2019. DECC has estimated that the programme, which will involve replacing around 53 million existing gas and electricity meters, will cost approximately £11.7 billion.

The number of M2M connected devices on the market could range from the hundreds of millions to the tens of billions over the next five years. Almost anything electrical can be connected to something else - this could be domestic smart meters to billing systems, to fleets of trucks to logistics databases or contactless cards to NFC payment terminals.

One organisation pushing the use of open wireless standards is WAVE2M and Wavenis Open Standard Alliance.

The various machines and systems involved in M2M (machine-to-machine) technology solutions have long suffered from a language or 'standards' barrier. Many different communication languages exist in M2M, which can make it difficult to integrate data from one machine to another and make them interoperable.

Smart homes connect all the devices and appliances in your home so they can communicate with each other and with you. Anything in your home using electricity can be put on the home network and will be at your command whether you're at home or out. You can give commands by voice, remote control or computer. Most applications will relate to lighting, home security, home theatre and entertainment and energy monitoring, such as smart meters. The overall aim is to reduce energy consumption.

Smart homes enable occupants to remotely control or program an array of automated home electronic devices by entering a single command, for example you are able to control your thermostat, a webcam, lights, TV, security and much more, all from a remote or an Android or iOS smartphone.

There is a distinct need for a standardised technology platform for all applications that manage small amounts of data, that have low radio traffic and ultra-low-power management. The solutions are an avenue for VARs, integrators and manufacturers to offer cost-effective value-added services in fast-growing wireless sensor markets. One of those markets is smart metering in the gas and water industry.

A lack of standardisation can obstruct the development of the M2M market and by using multiple standards this means devices cannot effectively communicate. Standardisation is important for the M2M industry to be truly efficient and integrated.

Technology in the M2M sector is moving on and any standard needs to be flexible enough to move with technological changes.

Smart homes connect all the devices and appliances in your home so they can communicate with each other and with you. Anything in your home using electricity can be put on the home network and will be at your command whether you're at home or out.

The key criteria for a successful M2M wireless communication strategy are to reduce costs, improve processes and become more effective. Leading manufacturers who are M2M enabled have a number of benefits over companies who aren't.

What is M2M Wireless Communications?

Machine-to-Machine or M2M refers to technologies that allow pieces of equipment to communicate with each other through wireless systems and wireless sensor networks. M2M uses a device, for example a meter or sensor to record an event, such as a temperature, which is relayed through a wireless network or a wireless sensor to an application such as a software program, which then translates this into meaningful information.