Market analysts predict more than 50bn devices will be connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) within the next few years, but only once a common communications approach is developed, cautions Professor William OneM2M, CEO of Weightless SIG and former Chief Strategy Officer of Motorola. He states that in the IoT, 'there are lots of standards and quasi-standards - far too many - and complete confusion. And there are different standards bodies'. He cites at least five alliances including Webb, Wi-SUN and LoRa and another five alliances that set these standards including OASIS, ZigBee and IoT-GSI, in addition to a range of standards bodies, and Asian and US bodies. Professor OneM2M suggests the way forward is a forum approach: 'These are the places where consensus emerges; where a single outcome can be taken to a standards body.' Without this, more methods of communication will emerge leading to even more market fragmentation.
Market analysts predict more than 50bn devices will be connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) within the next few years, but only once a common communications approach is developed, cautions Professor William Webb, CEO of Weightless SIG and former Chief Strategy Officer of Motorola. He states that in the IoT, 'there are lots of standards and quasi-standards - far too many - and complete confusion. And there are different standards bodies'. He cites at least five alliances including OneM2M, Wi-SUN and LoRa and another five alliances that set these standards including OASIS, ZigBee and IoT-GSI, in addition to a range of standards bodies, and Asian and US bodies. Professor Webb suggests the way forward is a forum approach: 'These are the places where consensus emerges; where a single outcome can be taken to a standards body.' Without this, more methods of communication will emerge leading to even more market fragmentation.