Home Security to Lead Wireless M2M Applications in Europe, Says Berg Insight

Berg Insight identifies home security as the hot wireless M2M application opportunity for European mobile operators. "We believe security will become one of the most successful applications for wireless M2M communication," said Tobias Ryberg, principal analyst at Berg Insight. "In 2005, we expect the number of mobile connections used in home alarm systems to surpass 1 million."

According to the Berg Insight report, "Wireless M2M Communication and Security", mobile communications is the latest trend in the European home security industry. The analysts say adding machine to machine (M2M) mobile communications to home security systems offers mobile operators significant growth opportunities beyond person to person communications. While 19 percent of U.S. households have a residential alarm system, only a few percent of the European households have so far installed security solutions in their homes. ?There is a potential market for at least 30 to 40 million home alarm systems in Europe,? said Ryberg.

Mobile communication capabilities are set to become a standard feature in home alarm systems in the European market in the coming few years. Securitas Direct, Europe?s leading provider of home security services, is gradually introducing GPRS for all new customers across the 10 countries where it operates, starting with Sweden and Denmark in 2004. Dual communication links for alarm systems, both landline telephone and wireless GPRS, adds extra security for the customers.