Electromagnetic waves travel by the speed of light (c = 299 792 458 meters per second), the wavelength (λ) defines frequency, shorter wavelength means higher frequency. The ideal length of an antenna would be exactly one wavelength. The formula is:

In other words, a M2M product using a 2G (GSM) module operating in the 900MHz band would need an antenna with a length of approx 0.33 meters. In most cases such antennas would be too long and bulky to be embedded into products. A normal compromise is to use a “quarter wavelength” antenna, being exactly ¼ of the wavelength.

Another consideration to make is what sort of RF cable to use, connecting the antenna to the 2G (GSM) or 3G (UMTS) module. RF cables differs in terms of power loss (attenuation), cable length is always the same, the longer cable the more loss of signal power. Loss or attenuation is normally measured in dB (Decibel), 3dB loss equals ½ the output power or ½ the received signal strength.

Antennas comes in many forms (Dipole, Yagi, Parabolic, Strip-line etc.), normally the choice will be a compromise between functionality, size, price and design. A thorough test of antennas is quite complicated, since it requires an anechoic chamber, accurate (expensive) RF test equipment and so on.

However, a comparison test of different antennas is much easier and probably enough to make the right choice. Take a number of antennas that you might consider to use, connect them to your product (assuming you have some indication of received signal strength) and see which one provides the best result. Normally you would perform such a test in a place where the received signal is rather weak. Once the choice is made, it’s advisable to test a couple of the same antennas to verify that quality (received signal strength) is consistent.

Do you need help ? Telenor Connexion have a testlab, where these (among other) tests can be done. Just contact us…

Event information: GIL 2010: Silicon Valley

Much focus is currently on remote health monitoring systems – basically providing the care giver constant access to health status data, without the need for a physical visit. Examples of conditions suitable to monitor on remote are obesity, hypertension, sleep disorders, diabetes and cardiac disorders.

The development is driven not only from an efficiency standpoint but also to enable improved possibility for preventive healthcare and to improve quality of life for the patient. Mobile technology is one integral part of these new solutions.

So far, most systems have been utilizing home land lines to transfer health status data. As in many other sectors the (medical ) equipment is getting smaller and increasingly mobile to facilitate for the patient  – not to be tied to their homes. In terms of mobile technology there are 3 main development paths on the move right now;

1. Utilizing short-range technologies like Bluetooth or Zigbee from medical device to the patient own mobile phone which transfer the health data to a central system
2. Short-range transfer to a dedicated gateway/hub with integrated mobile and/or internet communication capability for transferring to a central system  and
3. Direct integration of mobile device into the medical equipment, for example into blood pressure or glucose measurement equipment.

Of course, all solutions have pros and cons but many of the exhibiting companies at the ATA Telemedicine event pinpointed the importance of ease of use but also control of the whole data transfer to secure reliable, hazzle free operations.  Utilizing a private mobile phone (requiring configuration) as the data transfer method is not likely to be a sustainable solution in the long run, especially for critical systems and for elderly patients.  Direct integration or dedicated gateway/hub solutions is likely to be the main paths for the future remote monitoring solutions.

Having said that, the technology integration is only one piece of the puzzle. Regulatory issues, data security and privacy concerns, national differences in health systems (who is paying for what?), standardization issues are some concerns that may hinder the development. On the other hand we also see new types of service providers entering this arena offering complete end-to-end service offerings with flexible business models utilizing the possibilities of mobile communications – this will help drive this promising market!

So far so good, but in the case of M2M these modems are then built into products (e.g electricity meters, vehicles, credit card terminals etc), so additional hardware and software is added to make a complete product. On top of that some sort of central system or service application is normally needed to retrieve, handle and store data from the products.

Because of the additional complexity in a M2M applications potential problems can occur.  Below are a few examples:

- The modem is type approved, but not the complete product including system software with complete functionality – problems are discovered too late after commercial launch begins
- We did some field testing with 10-20 units and everything worked fine, but when our solution grew to thousands of units we did not understand what was needed for them to  co-exist and behave in a controlled manner in the mobile networks

In order to avoid unpredicted cost (re-visits of already deployed products or re-calling of products) it is imperative to test and validate key traffic and signaling behaviour in a test lab environment where different mobile networks can be simulated in a controlled manner, thereby allowing test situations that are hard or impossible to simulate in real life.

Customer products can be tested to dig deeper and determine things like:

• At what received signal strength does the product loose connection to the network?
• If connection to the mobile data network (GPRS) is temporarily lost, does the product re-connect as it should?
• Do handovers between cell sites or networks work correctly without lost service or data?
• How much data is used for a unique transaction, how much data is consumed for overhead signaling in a specific scenario?
• Does the connected unit handle network error codes in a correct manner?

These are just some examples of things not so easy (or even impossible) to test when connected to a live network. Tests like these have proven to be successful when developing and securing end to end communication functionality as well as and choice of aerial/antenna for optimized and cost-effective installation and operation.

Telenor Connexion encourages all our partners and customers to spend a couple of days performing tests like these in our test environment. After all, a couple of days of testing is a small effort compared to a scenario of having to re-call a multitude of deployed products.

Range anxiety is a condition that often afflicts people while at the helm of an electric vehicle. Anxiety escalates as the driver grows increasingly uncertain as to whether the battery-powered car will make it from point A to point B.

- “Drivers of electric cars know that they cannot simply re-fuel at any given time. They must re-charge, which requires planning,” explained Per Lindberg, Global Business Development Executive, Telenor Connexion. – “A good communications solution is necessary in order to plan your driving. You will not find an electric car without a telematics solution – that’s where we come in.”

Battery life of an electric car is dependent on a number of factors, including traffic conditions and even the weather. This makes it critical that the driver is able to communicate with the outside world and accurately calculate just how far his battery can take him.

Telenor in ideal position to deliver solutions
Telenor Connexion has a history of delivering telematics solutions to vehicles, in addition to experience working with the electric utilities companies in creating automated meter reading solutions. This puts the company in an ideal position when combining automotive telematics and electric utilities support for the electric car industry.

- “Telenor will deliver the communication. We have a network of companies that we will work with, including the electric utility companies, so it is possible to take on the role of mediator,” said Lindberg. – “The utility companies are now looking into how electric cars will affect their business, what they need to do and what their position will be, and we’re helping them along the way.”

New challenges for the electric utility companies
Electric vehicles present new challenges for the utility companies. For example, a driver of an electric car may drive to a friend’s house for dinner and wish to charge his vehicle during his stay. The problem arises when the driver’s electricity usage to re-charge his car shows up on his friend’s monthly power bill. To solve this dilemma the power company needs to be alerted that this electricity is for the car, not the friend, and that the driver of the vehicle should be charged instead.

- “The industry is developing ways of identifying whether electricity is used by the vehicle or the household, which results in a completely new business model for the utility companies,” said Lindberg. – “From a Telenor perspective it doesn’t differ much whether it’s an electricity meter or a car that wants to send data via our network, it’s the data that we transmit in both cases. Where it gets interesting is when we start thinking about the electric vehicle communicating to the electric grid.

Electric cars challenge the current methods of distributing electricity.
There are still a number of questions remaining when it comes to the infrastructure and distribution of electricity to meet the new needs of electric cars. For example, who will own the charging stations? When parking downtown, will parking and battery charging be billed together? And when you charge your car, can you select the company from which you will purchase your power?

According to Göran Brandt, Vice President of Business Development at Telenor Connexion, flexibility is the key to the successful spread of electric cars. “At the end of the day, it’s all about retrieving the necessary information, such as location, consumption, preferred method of payment, etc. There will most likely not be a single solution working in all countries and places. Flexibility and long-term consistency are essential.”

Electric cars drive telematics growth
Telenor has identified telematics as one of its key growth areas. Since telematics will be a standard feature in all electric cars, this industry will serve as one of the main drivers of this growth.

- “I think we will see a very quick rollout of electric cars, as there is a lot of political pressure on getting these vehicles to the market and many government subsidies are now being offered to encourage uptake,” said Lindberg. – “We are excited to support the spread of electric cars, and we will do our best to help alleviate all unnecessary range anxiety for consumers.”

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is a leading global provider of embedded connectivity for business and life critical applications. Companies in industries as diverse as automotive, security, utilities and fleet management are implementing embedded connectivity solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and expand customer services. With more than 10 years of experience, Telenor Connexion is a reliable partner, understanding and dedicated our customers’ business.Telenor Connexion provides international, cost-effective M2M (machine-to-machine) communication solutions to a number of global customers such as Volvo, Daimler and Securitas Direct.According to leading industry analyst Berg Insight Telenor is “the most advanced mobile operator in the area of M2M” and also “the dominant provider of wireless M2M connectivity”.
Telenor Connexion is wholly owned by Telenor Group, the world’s sixth largest mobile operator. Telenor Group is an international provider of high quality tele, data and media communication services with mobile operations in 13 markets across the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe and in Asia.

Apple set the norm by the fantastic success of the Apple Appstore for the iPhone, iPod and now iPad. This has not given Apple’s competitors any rest, and we see “appstores” coming from every major device manufacturer today. You could of course argue that what Apple has created, is a long way from an open platform, as Apple owns all the IPRs themselves, and they are the only provider of the hardware. But where we cannot argue, is the fact they have managed to create an Ecosystem that allows third party developers the possibility to create, and perhaps most importantly, earn money on developing and selling applications.

Most open platform initiatives until now, seem to be driven from a technical viewpoint. One early and successful example is of course OSGi, which today can be found in a wide range of telematics and M2M applications, like automotive, eHealth and smart homes.  OSGi solves many of the things we want from an open platform, but it does not create an open marketplace by itself. Another more recent example is Genivi, which is quite firmly stuck in the Automotive area. Genivi attempts to create a common base platform for Infotainment systems. They have a number of strong supporters like BMW, GM, Intel, Magneti Marelli and many more. If the momentum stretches far enough to create a common marketplace and ecosystem will be interesting to watch.

Because that is really the key point as I see it today. If you want an open platform for the internal benefits of shorter development cycles, lower costs etc, then go ahead and use what is available. But if you also want to help create a new ecosystem, where developers are motivated to write new, innovative applications, I think we need something more. It will not be enough if every car OEM has their own “open platform and appstore”, we will not reach critical mass. I think that we need some sort of common standard for this. An application developed for car brand X should also work in car brand Y. Otherwise, we run the risk of leaving the market to the Apples and Googles of the world. Why should I as a consumer pay once again for an application in my car, when I already have it on my iPhone or Android phone? Nokia’s Terminal Mode hints at what is possible with this type of solution. Or perhaps even more interestingly, will Googles “open platform” Android be installed in the next car you buy, giving you access to Android Market?

No one knows the future, but regarding open platforms, I do know that we are in for a couple of exciting years to come! Some will fail, some will succeed, but you can be sure that the car you buy 10 years from now, will either have an on-board platform that lets you download the apps you want, or have an interface to your smartphone that lets you do the same thing.

Commissioner Neelie Kroes is on a mission to save thousands of lives each year with eCall, a service that automatically sends a distress call after a car accident. The European Commission has elevated eCall to the top of their agenda, and legislation that would require all new cars in Europe to be outfitted with this life-saving service is now in the works.

- Telenor is an active supporter of the European Commission’s eCall initiative and we are currently taking an active role in the European eCall Implementation Platform, which consists of various stakeholders working to bring eCall to Europe, said Lotte Abildgaard, Vice President and Head of Telenor’s representative office in Brussels.

- Telenor’s main contribution to this initiative is our expertise. Our involvement allows us to be a part of the dialogue, work side-by-side with important stakeholders and help shape policy that will impact our business, Lotte Abildgaard continued.

Telenor and Volvo share an eCall history
eCall is not a new concept, despite its relatively recent addition to the European Commission’s agenda. According to Per Lindberg, Global Business Development Executive at Telenor Connexion, Telenor has worked with Volvo on their eCall solution for more than 10 years.

- Telenor Connexion has been delivering the communications system for Volvo’s OnCall service package since 1999. Today we provide the communication for OnCall in 14 different markets, said Lindberg.

Read the whole article at Telenor Groups web site (external) >

Congestion is a huge drain on the economy and on the environment with its costs running into USD$ hundreds of billions (3 percent of GDP in OECD countries and even higher in Asia).

– Traffic management is becoming increasingly important in modern society, and governments around the world are beginning to realize this. One of the strengths of the Billoo solution is its global deployment. As a provider of worldwide M2M connectivity solutions we are proud to form part of a partnership that offers governments all over the world, a solution that transcends international boundaries, says Pablo Contreras, Global Business Development Executive, Telenor Connexion.

Many strategies have been tested but only a permanent and real time management of traffic demands throughout an entire road network can properly solve road traffic issues. This requires a solution with the ability to process an extensive number of very short messages (via machine-to-machine, M2M, communication) and a high capacity of computations at low rates. The Billoo solution capitalizes on the high reliability and scalability that Telenor Connexion global M2M connectivity provides.

– Telenor Connexion offers Billoo a highly secure M2M infrastructure and organization, as well as support services for worldwide deployment. Its global mobile network is optimized to receive high volume data traffic, says Philip van der Heijden, CEO of Billoo Development BV.

By having developed its own solution from inception, by exchanging data between vehicles and its computer centre in a bi-directional manner and by computing this data in real time, Billoo offers a fully comprehensive solution based on GPS/GPRS technologies which solves all the main issues regarding the management of road mobility independently of the length and nature of the road network and independently of the number of vehicles moving simultaneously (regardless of vehicle quantity).

Billoo devices use the Telenor Connexion eSIM technology with the Telenor worldwide M2M services and the platform dedicated solely to M2M traffic. The Telenor Connexion M2M connectivity solutions provide Billoo the high security level that a road mobility management solution requires.

There is enormous potential and fast development in Location Based Services, LBS, and road mobility management solutions are a cornerstone to this progress.

For more information, please contact:

Jean-Marie Carrara, Product Development Director, Billoo Development
info@billoopass.com, +31 70 356 22 37

Karin Karlung, PR and Communication, Telenor Connexion
karin.karlung@telenor.com, +46 734 417 415

About Billoo Development
Billoo is the only company in the world to have developed a global sustainable road mobility management solution that is especially suited for application to an unlimited number of vehicles moving simultaneously within the entire national road network of any given country.

The Billoo solution can be deployed quickly and represents the most cost effective solution available to drivers and governments alike.
The Billoo solution is wholly-owned and its operation is subcontracted to some of the best known companies in the world. For more information, please visit www.billoopass.com. Billoo and Billoopass are trademarks.

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is a leading global provider of embedded connectivity for business and life critical applications. Companies in industries as diverse as automotive, security, utilities and fleet management are implementing embedded connectivity solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and expand customer services. With more than 10 years of experience, Telenor Connexion is a reliable partner, understanding and dedicated our customers’ business.Telenor Connexion provides international, cost-effective M2M (machine-to-machine) communication solutions to a number of global customers such as Volvo, Daimler and Securitas Direct.According to leading industry analyst Berg Insight Telenor is “the most advanced mobile operator in the area of M2M” and also “the dominant provider of wireless M2M connectivity”.
Telenor Connexion is wholly owned by Telenor Group, the world’s sixth largest mobile operator. Telenor Group is an international provider of high quality tele, data and media communication services with mobile operations in 13 markets across the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe and in Asia.

The Eco-Way is an innovative, ground-breaking portable navigation device featuring an electrical interface that connects directly to the diagnostics bus within a vehicle, thereby enabling it to collect real-time engine and performance data. The Eco-Way processes this information and displays in real-time MPG and CO2 per mile in a Prius-like display. Eco-Way also calculates an “Eco-Score” telling the driver the degree to which their driving is eco-friendly. Vehicle and driver performance information is sent via Telenor Connexion’s global GPRS network to the TSP’s fleet management database where fleet operators can review vehicle and driver performance statistics and vehicle maintenance information.  One of the key value propositions of the Eco-Way is the ability for drivers to see in real-time how their driving behaviour affects gas mileage and CO2 emissions so they can make improvement, as well as how their vehicle performs relative to the capabilities advertised by the manufacturer.

Of particular importance in this system is the ability to provision, manage and support thousands of remote, internet-connected eco-navigation devices, on a global basis, and to ensure reliable capture and presentation of critical data, and make immediate notification of any vehicle faults or problems. This capability is provided through Telenor Connexion’s comprehensive global telematics connectivity solution.

– We are very excited to be working with Telenor Connexion, a world leader in global M2M connectivity solutions with a distinguished reputation, says Jim DiSanto, President of Earthrise and a Digisec board member.

– Oil prices are again heading up as the world economy transitions from recession to a new growth cycle. Fuel costs are the number one concern of fleet operators world-wide, followed closely by the cost of emissions. Transportation is now the number one man-made producer of green house gases, and pressure is being brought upon fleet operators to reduce their emissions. Using innovative telematics technology like Eco-Way coupled with Telenor Connexion connectivity services can reduce transportation emissions in most fleets by 30-40%, Jim DiSanto continues.

– We are pleased to work with such a pioneering company like Digisec. The product is built and launched towards the professional fleet and transportation vertical in an innovative way, and in view of the environmental focus and consideration arising all around the world. It is with great enthusiasm we contribute with our global M2M connectivity solution, says Niclas Andersson, Global Business Development Executive, Telenor Connexion.

For more information, please contact:

Jim DiSanto, Earthrise Technologies, Inc.
jimd@earthrisetech.com,  +1 650-283-4402

Niclas Andersson, Telenor Connexion
niclas.k.andersson@telenor.com, +46 (734) 41 72 78

About Earthrise Technologies and Digisec Group
Earthrise Technoloiges is a wholly owned division of Digisec Group (www.digisecgroup.com), a Caymans Corporation.  In addition to Earthrise, Digisec owns and operates CCYamei Electronics, the leading after-market manufacturer of automotive security and safety products in China.  Products include EZ-GO smart key system, All-Way GPS/GSM tracking and security system, and the new Eco-Way connected navigation system with Eco-Driving and vehicle diagnostics. For more information please visit www.earthrisetech.com

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is a leading global provider of embedded connectivity for business and life critical applications. Companies in industries as diverse as automotive, security, utilities and fleet management are implementing embedded connectivity solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and expand customer services. With more than 10 years of experience, Telenor Connexion is a reliable partner, understanding and dedicated our customers’ business. According to leading industry analyst Berg Insight, Telenor is “the most advanced mobile operator in the area of M2M” and “the dominant provider of wireless M2M connectivity”.

- It’s an honour to be nominated in the category Telematics Leadership, in particular since the competition is so tough. The telematics industry is full of innovative ideas and I am proud to lead the people in the very front line. Telenor Connexion is truly devoted to the ground-breaking aspect of embedded connectivity while relying on our long term experience of solid telematics solutions. We are a part of our customers business and life critical applications, and we take that very seriously, says Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion.

Per Simonsen is one of the pioneers within the mobile operator sector who has truly realised how mobile operators need to fundamentally change and adapt to the new business logics tied to telematics deployments and operations, in order to further drive this new market. He has successfully led the build-up of the new organisation, implemented a solely devoted telematics platform for global connectivity and outlined the future path for how mobile operators need change mindset to develop the global telematics market.

Every year the Telematics Awards recognises and celebrates the key companies and people that are driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in GPS technology.

- This is a crucial year for the industry as the recovery process has already begun, and, telematics players, now more than ever, need to come together to strategise for the next decade of telematics service provision, says Precksha Saksena, managing director of Telematics Update.

During the past six months, hundreds of companies have nominated themselves or their partners and clients through the Telematics Awards website. An independent panel of industry experts from the digital automotive, mobile and web industries have analysed the submissions and individually narrowed down each category.

The finalists in the Telematics Leadership category are:

- Fran Dance, Telematics Services Manager, BMW
- Jeff Littlejohn, Executive VP, Clear Channel
- Jim Buczkowski, Director of Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering, Ford Motor Company
- Jocelyn Vigreux, President, TomTom
- Kamyar Moinzadeh, President & CEO, Airbiquity
- Kevin Dallas, General Manager Microsoft Visions Embedded, Microsoft
- Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion AB
- Steve Millstein, President, ATX Group

Telematics Update will reveal all the winners at an exclusive awards dinner on June 7, 2010, the eve of the 10th annual Telematics Detroit 2010 Conference & Exhibition, which takes place on June 8-9 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Michigan, Novi, USA.

About Telematics Update
Telematics Update is the world’s leading provider of business to business telematics intelligence, specialising in conferences, large scale events, and seminars. Telematics Update Conferences are the most prestigious in the industry. Telematics Update produces the largest telematics event in North America and Europe and attracts the most influential speakers providing a rich environment for establishing strategic relationships and networking. For more information please visit www.telematicsupdate.com