HP and Nokia announce remote machine connectivity solutions.

HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Nokia (NYSE:NOK) have announced the availability of integrated machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity solutions that link Nokia wireless technology with HP hardware and software to access and manage remote assets.

Companies can now deploy solutions enabling them to automate business processes and easily make decisions based on real-time data associated with remote assets to enhance efficiency, lower costs, improve service levels and create new customer service offerings.

Companies that rely on remote machinery and facilities and extended manufacturing chains for services are expected to be among the first adopters of M2M connectivity solutions. Automatic meter reading, security, elevator control, fleet management and traffic control systems are among the applications of M2M connectivity.

"M2M connectivity continues to evolve as a competitive advantage for enterprises whose businesses rely on the performance of remote equipment or machinery," said Jerry Meerkatz, vice president, HP Mobility Solutions. "Now, customers have the advantage of technology and expertise from both Nokia and HP within an M2M solution that can be integrated into their existing IT infrastructures. M2M connectivity is another example of how mobile solutions are transforming the way businesses operate and serve their customers."

"Corporate customers have an increasing need to integrate their remote assets as part of their IT infrastructures, and only the best combination of communications, infrastructure technologies and services can meet this challenge," said Janne Jormalainen, vice president, Mobile Enhancements Business Unit, Nokia Mobile Phones. "Nokia and HP product offerings complement each other and create an excellent fit for corporate needs."

Lars Vestergaard, research manager from IDC, one of the leading industry observers, praised the opportunities in this market. "HP and Nokia look like a very interesting combination in the M2M space as they each bring knowledge and understanding to the market," he said. "Customers should be pleased to see this kind of collaboration and the results it can produce."

A typical M2M solution will include the Nokia M2M Platform, HP OpenView product suite components on an HP-UX or HP ProLiant server backbone. The Nokia M2M Platform provides an environment for facilitating data communications between devices and Internet-hosted applications and consists of two elements:

The Nokia M2M Gateway acts as a bridging element between the GSM network and the company intranet. It provides wireless connection establishment and Internet protocol (IP) translation between applications located in the company server and in the remote devices.

The Nokia GSM Connectivity Terminals enable establishment of a two-way communication link from remote machines to IT systems. Together with the Nokia M2M Gateway, it hides the complexity of the wireless network from the applications that communicate over this link.

The HP OpenView management environment is used to manage both the infrastructure that is part of the machine connectivity solution and any alarms that come from the machines. HP OpenView software inspects the messages from the remote machine, assigns severities, categorizes alarms into groups and displays them to an operator. Automated actions can be associated with each type of alarm. The software also manages the alarms and allows integration with trouble ticketing or other applications.

The integrated, customised M2M solutions are available now in Europe and are expected to become available in other regions over the coming months. M2M specialists from Nokia and HP will support local sales and consulting initiatives.