Du rolls-out high-end machine-to-machine services in the UAE in partnership with Gemalto

Designed to make business processes more efficient and cost-effective, Gemalto's Cinterion MIM cards will be integrated in all major M2M initiatives by Du for a variety of end-markets, from oil and gas, retail, healthcare, utilities, to power management, as well as the transportation sector and will contribute to vast operational improvements in the region's industrial sectors. The solution allows for remote machines to directly communicate with central management systems and enable increased productivity.

Gemalto's MIMs are specialized SIM platforms designed for M2M wireless communication and will operate on Du's state-of-the art network. They meet the demanding requirements of varying industrial environments and ensure M2M applications resist the climatic challenges in the UAE, endure a long lifespan and support miniaturization requirements.

The MIMs can be embedded in smart meters and will enable utility companies or energy distributors in the UAE to securely and remotely monitor electricity consumption in real time. In the oil and gas industries, the devices will help manage hard-to-reach meters to ensure effective maintenance. Transportation companies will have the option of tracking the flow of vehicles to optimize their routes with up-to-the-minute traffic information leading to a significant reduction in overall non-productive periods.

"Machine to Machine communication is a dynamic collaborative tool and is perfectly suited for core sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing, transportation and healthcare. This is an emerging new focus area for us as part of our strategy to tap new business models and revenue streams. We chose Gemalto for their expertise in M2M technology which exemplifies our reliable and enhanced services to our customers," said Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, Du.

"Du is fuelling innovation in the UAE and the deployment of MIM cards has the potential to change the industry's landscape in the region. M2M is surging globally with analysts forecasting it will become a $28bn market by 20141. Gemalto and Du are dedicated to enabling this growth in the Middle East," added Eric Claudel, Senior Vice President of Telecommunication at Gemalto Middle East.