IBM partner Vodafone for Smarter Home

IBM and Vodafone have announced a collaboration to combine mobile communications and cloud computing for the remote management of 'smart home' appliances.

The two companies anticipate that this M2M initiative could allow consumers to use their smartphones for a variety of remote activities including viewing their home's utility consumption; controlling security, heating and lighting systems; and activating home appliances such as washing machines.

Additionally the initiative will enable manufacturers and service providers to collect data from appliances that can be used to inform product development and maintenance and provide better services to consumers.

'Security is the first important step for connecting devices to the internet and the collaboration between IBM and Vodafone is putting in place an open, efficient and scalable solution for the consumer electronics industry that will enable it to successfully progress the creation of the 'Internet of Things'.' said Marc Tastayre, Vodafone M2M Global Business Development Manager.