Verizon, Qualcomm form JV for connected machines

The mobile operator industry sees the next wave of growth coming from connected machines. Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm are pushing that vision with a new joint venture that calls for the new entity to deliver machine-to-machine wireless services to a range of market segments, including healthcare, manufacturing, utilities, distribution and consumer products.

The unnamed joint venture, will be equally owned by Verizon and Qualcomm and aims to be a one-stop shop that will automate wireless devices and provide provisioning, specialized applications and wireless connectivity to firms that want M2M services.

In an interview with FierceWireless, Steve Pazol--head of the new joint venture--said that Verizon will provide the sales force and distribution channel that Qualcomm lacks. In addition, he said the new partnership will continue to support Qualcomm's existing M2M customers that run services over the networks of other carriers such as AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile USA. Pazol also said that the joint venture will provide services internationally through Qualcomm's existing relationships with other carriers and overseas firms.

Verizon's deal with Qualcomm comes on the heels of AT&T's exclusive deal with M2M firm Jasper Wireless, which calls for Jasper to provide the activation, billing and connectivity support for all the embedded wireless devices (both consumer and M2M) that AT&T connects to its network.

For more:
- check out this FierceWireless report

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