Machine-to-Machine, or M2M, technology represents one of the quietest industries poised to explode and change the way our world operates. Analysts are talking about it, venture capital is pouring into it and majors are rushing to align themselves to capitalize on it now. On Thursday, Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE: RCI) said that it intends to double revenue to more than $100 million that it generates from its M2M communications business in the next two years.
Even though Rogers is the largest wireless provider in Canada, it is still only one of a handful of majors like Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) vying for a slice of the M2M communications market. The fact that Rogers intends to record such robust revenue from the still nascent industry lends a great deal of credence as to just how big the market is already and how enormous it will become.
Yet, investors looking to get a piece of the industry should also realize that carriers like Rogers, Verizon and Sprint only provide one piece of a multi-dimensional platform to offer M2M solutions. Users still need sensors, a gateway, website interface and more to realize the benefits of M2M and there are negligible numbers of companies that provide the complete package. A company that provides it all can generate revenue of many multiples per client than that of a wireless provider.
Wiless Controls Inc. (OTCBB: IMEK) is one of those companies with its true “plug and play” M2M system. The company has negotiated deals to provide the required cellular services, allowing the company to give its customers, which can range from consumer to government, all they need to be up and running as soon as they unbox the system.
The company has already done a soft launch, testing units across the planet last year. Now, it looks like they are ready to conduct a commercial-scale launch of their products by partnering with Metropolitan Industries Inc., a large manufacturer based outside Chicago. This new collaboration builds upon recent news from the company about manufacturing agreements. The investment community seems to be catching on to Wiless as shares have steadily been edging upward for more than a month to now be trading at a dime, but still offer plenty of headroom for growth from these levels.
Today’s news showcases the financial strength, experience and size of Metropolitan that will greatly expand the ability for a swift market penetration by Wiless.
Wiless Controls Inc. and Metropolitan Industries Inc. Form Strategic Alliance to Expedite Production and Distribution of M2M Total Solution
Wiless Controls Inc. (the “Company”), (www.wilesscontrols.com ) a leading innovator in embedded wireless asset monitoring solutions, announces that the Company has entered into a strategic alliance with Metropolitan Industries Inc. of Romeoville, Illinois (“Metropolitan”)( www.metropolitanind.com).
After having worked closely together for more than one year, Metropolitan and Wiless Controls have partnered to create the infrastructure necessary to expedite the production and deployment of the Wireless Machine-to-Machine (M2M) system originally developed by Wiless Controls. The Wiless “plug and play” platform has been heralded as a breakthrough for the monitoring and control of a wide range of commercial, consumer and industrial applications, an industry commonly referred to as the “Internet of Things.”
Leveraging the strengths of each company, the all-encompassing agreement meshes together all the elements of a complete infrastructure for rapid, targeted market penetration; additional Research and Development of new products and applications; production of the key components, such as the Cellular Gateway and wireless sensors; and management of the network, web application and user interface.
“Over the last year, our relationship with Metropolitan has grown stronger and more expansive,” stated Michel St-Pierre, CEO of Wiless Controls Inc. Metropolitan has been integral in the development of our M2M package, including our beta launch last year. As we are now ready for a commercial launch of the product, partnering with a company with the portfolio of clients, staff, and financial strength of Metropolitan provides us invaluable resources to penetrate multiple verticals simultaneously. We could not be more pleased to have formalized our relationship and look forward to the successful commercialization of our M2M technology.”
John Kochan Jr, CEO of Metropolitan Industries, added, “It is evident to us and everyone in the industry that the day of wirelessly monitoring and controlling assets in real time, which is what the M2M industry is all about, is upon us. We see a wide array of benefits in our various markets at Metropolitan, albeit industrial, commercial or consumer-oriented products and services. In business for more than 50 years, with clients from consumers to government, Metropolitan’s size and production expertise will greatly supplement Wiless Controls’ innovative product development. We have exhibited the system at trade shows and have an operational demonstration running at our facilities, which has resulted in on-the-spot sales and a tremendous amount of interest already. We are excited about where this new alliance with Wiless Controls can lead both the near and long term.”
About Metropolitan Industries Inc.
Metropolitan Industries ( www.metropolitanind.com ) is a family-owned company formed in 1957, which has evolved to be a leader and a one-stop shop for equipment and ancillary products that serve the municipal, commercial, HVAC, industrial and residential markets and industrial and residential water and wastewater related industries. The company occupies a 100,000 sq. ft facility and employs over 130 people in Romeoville, Il.
About Wiless Controls Inc.
Wiless Controls Inc. ( www.wilesscontrols.com ) was formed in 2010 by principals with years of experience in high technology development with the mission to develop a plug-and-pay system to ease the deployment of Machine-to-Machine applications. This was accomplished by putting together as a package all the elements necessary to greatly reduce the cost and time to implement monitoring and control of any asset or condition from “anywhere to anywhere” in the world.


