Emerging Solutions will focus on Sprint's overall open device and M2M strategy and business development, and consolidate resources into one team with common goals. It will work closely with Sprint's customer-facing channels and partners to assess revenue opportunities and develop go-to-market plans. The company has got over 10 years of experience in working with vendors to provision non-Sprint-branded devices to operate on its networks, apart from operating multiple platforms and assets.

 

There are some innovative streams in which the new unit will concentrate its focus. One of them is to offer increased durability, hardware/software integration, simple setup and lower support costs for customers and partners by integrating mobile computing devices together with traditional consumer electronics and devices with broadband access.

 

The new business unit will also develop new strategies for M2M devices to deliver capabilities to multiple industries and include such applications as remote monitoring, asset tracking, fleet management, telematics, automation and control, automated meter reading, SmartGrid initiatives, point-of-sale/ATM and wireless routing.

 

According to Steve Hilton, Vice President of Research, Yankee Group (News - Alert), businesses often need help to go simpler as multiple players in M2M and varied solutions are quite complicated to implement. Hilton added that Sprint's M2M history and new focused approach will make them thoughtful partners for businesses in this space as well as lead to continued innovation in solutions for consumers.

 

Emerging Solutions will rely upon a combination of internal expertise and external partners to accelerate the delivery of the most appropriate solutions to meet the varied customer needs.

 

Hundreds of Sprint solutions specialists who co-ordinate with business customers every day in the roles of solutions engineering, custom network and industry-specific specialists, will help the Emerging Solutions team in understanding and acquiring new information about the evolving mobility needs of businesses. Sprint's consumer customer-facing channels will also support the new unit with its strong relationships with national third-party retailers and wholesale partners.

 

In September, Sprint provided its network services at an industry event to ensure that world leaders, event staff and public safety officials can communicate using its mobile devices and services, including Nextel Direct Connect, an interoperable, push-to-talk service. Additionally, in September, the city of Chicago selected Sprint to provide wireless services for its government entities by signing a $12 million agreement with the company for five more years of wireless services.