The Big Conversation: let's define some M2M/IoT boundaries

Funny thing is, everyone outside telcos seems to understand the distinction between M2M (which I think is mainly about making the connectivity work) and Internet of Things (which I think is mainly about the higher layers). Confusing the two is like muddling up the Web with Fibre - a category error. Does anyone else think so?

Personally I think both descriptions are a little inelegant, but then that's technology terminology for you. With a background in both enterprise and carrier networking I find it hard to conceive of what else the Internet has been all these years if it isn't an Internet of Things? This debate IS helpful in defining M2M as the subset of this, rather than a competing term, and in that respect I agree with Jeremy. M2M is the universe of applications for having machines exchanging communications data and actions in an automated, rules based fashion traffic systems being a good, simple example of this. IoT, I find largely meaningless.

One distinction that might make sense is the difference between tactical and strategic. Horrible words, I know, but what's one to do? M2M tends to be about vertically integrated projects (connectivity and application) costed against a specific business objective and executed on that basis. IoT, in the way it is evolving, it seems to me is more about building and planning first and trusting that valuable 'stuff' will happen when enough things are equipped (or capable of being equipped) at a low enough price. "Plan it well and things will gel...?"

I do think this is a cool thing. We already have weather stations today with USB connections and data that can be downloaded. Well connecting the Weather Station with heating, fridge and freeze, we do get a coll regulation system. And then what will that system report to my mobile App ? An intresting future.