In a context where smart applications are plentiful and originate in a variety of sectors (energy, water, transport, health and safety, media, etc.), This creates business opportunities for telecommunication operators, IT companies, or metering companies: in developing cloud services for smart metering, they all are potential competitors in this market. Alternatively, smart systems can come with their own management interface, which may be controlled by a different company. There is ample evidence of energy and telecommunication companies moving up the value chain, not just delivering connectivity and energy, but also actively managing devices in the home or in businesses.