The key difference between IoT and M2M is that IoT or the Internet of Things uses wireless communication while M2M or the Machine to Machine can use wired or wireless communication. IoT connects smart devices to the network to collect data, analyze and to make smart decisions while M2M enables the devices to communicate and perform the required action without human involvement.
Today, the world is more connected than ever. The advancement of technology connects not just people but also the devices and machines together throughout the globe. IoT and M2M are two technologies that help to improve productivity, efficiency, accuracy and improves the overall quality of lifestyle. However, M2M and IoT are very similar but the IoT is the latest technology. M2M is the basis for IoT. The IoT and M2M based systems monitor themselves automatically and respond to the changes and perform tasks without human interference.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IoT
3. What is M2M
4. Relationship Between IoT and M2M
5. Side by Side Comparison – IoT vs M2M in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is IoT?
IoT is a rapidly growing technology in the modern world. It connects the smart devices to the network to collect and analyze data and to make smart decisions. The devices can be a smartphone, smartwatch, smart car etc. These devices connect to gateway. Afterward, the gateway passes those data to cloud for further processing and analyzes. It sends data back and forth to the cloud and back to the devices. Furthermore, Cloud computing provides the pathway to share and store data for IoT applications.
In a smart home, the devices communicate with each other to control the appliances, to increase security and for efficient energy management. IoT helps in health care to monitor patient’s health. A city can use smart surveillance for safe transportation and environmental monitoring. A manufacturing plant can use IoT to detect defects in equipment and manufacturing process. It can use advanced sensing and analytics to predict time the machines require maintenance. It reduces cost and time. Moreover, a smart agriculture system can sense soil moisture and weather and water the plants automatically only if necessary. This avoids unnecessary water wastage. The continuous monitoring help to maximize production. Those are few examples of IoT.
What is M2M?
M2M is the connection and communication between two or more devices. It utilizes the shared information. Usually, the devices such as sensors and monitors collect data and send them to a central application. Other than that, it uses automatic software programs to allow networked devices to understand data and to make useful decisions. This technology was developed before IoT. However, both of them are very similar but IoT is the latest.
Remote monitoring uses M2M to a great extent. In product monitoring, multiple machines can exchange data about the new products, out of stock products. Robotics, warehouse management, supply chain and logistics management are the other fields that use M2M communication.
What is the Relationship Between IoT and M2M?
- M2M is the basis for IoT.
What is the Difference Between IoT and M2M?
IoT stands for Internet of Things while M2M stands for Machine to Machine communication. IoT connects smart devices to the network to collect data, analyze and to make smart decisions. On the other hand, M2M enables the devices to communicate and perform the required action without human involvement. IoT uses wireless communication whereas M2M can use wired or wireless communication.
Moreover, IoT requires an active internet connection while M2M does not necessarily require an internet connection. The requirement for the internet connection depends on the application. Furthermore, IoT relies highly on internet connectivity, cloud etc. whereas M2M mainly relies on the cellar or the wired network.
Summary – IoT vs M2M
The difference between IoT and M2M is that IoT uses wireless communication while M2M can use wired or wireless communication. Areas such as medicine, manufacturing, robotics, supply chain management, energy management, agriculture use IoT and M2M applications. These technologies help to create a more connected world.
Reference
1.Rahul. “IoT Applications With Examples.” Internet Of Things Wiki, 31 Jan. 2018. Available here
2.Ray, Brian. “What Is M2M? [2018 Update].” Link Labs. Available here
3.“What Is Machine-to-Machine (M2M)? – Definition from WhatIs.com.” IoT Agenda. Available here
4.“Internet of Things Examples and Applications.” IoT For All, IoT For All, 15 Feb. 2018. Available here
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1.’25356051069′ by the waving cat (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr