That said, the even bigger attraction of LTE for M2M is the all-IP architecture sitting behind the fat access pipes, says Masetti-Placci of Alcatel-Lucent. "The evolution towards a full IP-based infrastructure simplifies the deployment and implementation in an open way of those types of services."
That will also pave the way for IPv6, which is widely seen as a necessary component of an IP-based wireless broadband future where almost every electronic device will have an Internet port, he adds.
"That means carriers will not only be able to manage a large number of devices simultaneously, but also assign IP addresses for each of them, which would simplify tracking, application processing and so on," Masetti-Placci says.
Chambers of the GSMA adds that LTE's efficiencies could be maximized for M2M apps in which the terminals are stationary, like meters or digital signage.
"If it doesn't move, you don't need to support the mobility protocols or manage things like handover, so you need to look at ways to reduce the signaling overhead," he says.
Complexity shielding
With all that, it's little wonder carriers are keen to get all these machines on their networks, if only to take advantage of their upgraded network capacity and rake in whatever revenue it generates.
The question, as always, is figuring out a bankable business model. That's likely to vary from app to app. For example, the Kindle angle suggests a model where the content provider subsidizes the wireless data charges, says St George. "Amazon did a great job with the Kindle in terms of dealing with what the customer pays for. The wireless charges are completely invisible to the user. They just pay for the books or magazines they download, and the device itself."