M2M applications are touching everyone’s lives. From home alarm systems to automobile tracking applications, Homeland Security initiatives to FEMA asset management, M2M is poised for significant growth. Smart meters to improve energy management, teen tracking to improve parental ‘peace of mind’, or mobile payments for delivery or taxi applications to improve security and quality of life – all are enabled by new M2M services.

KORE is at the forefront in accelerating and enabling these innovations. Since 2003, KORE have been driving innovation to constantly improve the painful reality that ‘the network last mile’ has to work flawlessly for KORE’s customers. A solution based on M2M service needs integration end-to-end, ensuring that the overall solution operates – and always operates – as planned. A network or device problem is not solved by walking into a store and changing a handset. At KORE, they have built test systems, applications test platforms and device accreditation programs to support highly reliable service delivery over the long haul.

Influencing Common Standards – PCS Type Certification Board

All devices to be used with GSM networks in North America require PTCRB certification. Designed originally for handsets, the independent Type Certification Board is responsible for developing and implementing standards definition and certification processes for the GSM operators.

KORE is the only MVNO – the only non-spectrum owning network provider – that is a full voting member of the PTCRB Review Board.
Wireless Trade and Industry Initiatives – CTIA

The Cellular Telecommunication and Internet Association reflects the needs of the consumer, enterprise and industry in charting evolutionary change in the wireless community. Within the CTIA, a limited number of Working Industry Councils are focused on furthering the needs of certain segments, from a regulatory, technical and market awareness perspective. KORE is a founding member of the recently formed M2M Special Interest Group (SIG), representing change in the market.

Driving change with Carriers

The MVNO business approach of KORE – including pay-for-use unbundled airtime charges, self-management of network services and simple management of interconnect needs – has been pioneered by KORE. Others may copy the approach but KORE originated it – and developed the business approach that convinced carrier partners to adopt it to grow the M2M market.

At KORE Telematics, they control all there own network elements needed for SMS delivery, including message platforms for both production and test services, and KORE’s own Short Codes and Virtual Number services. Unlike most providers, who rely on the operator to deliver these services – and stand in the queue waiting for provisioning and implementation – KORE can react to deliver customers custom solution quickly and reliably.

KORE provide several Short Message Service (SMS) solutions addressing the specific needs of the M2M marketplace. Leveraging the SMPP (Short Message Peer to Peer) 3.4 protocol, KORE enables customers to deliver SMS as an effective data bearer for applications. Using Short Codes, two-way private and highly reliable communications can be enabled. In addition, direct SIM to SIM messaging or even Inter-Carrier messaging solutions using KORE Virtual Numbers are all available options. The KORE SMS Gateway services portfolio allows customers to choose the solution that best suits the application needs.

SMS Gateway Service with Short Codes

KORE can provision the unique Short Codes. With an SMPP connection to the KORE SMS Gateway, this Short Code allows devices to terminate messages back to the application server. Additionally, the application server can communicate via SMS back to the devices. This is a closed network solution providing highly reliable – and rapid – message origination and termination between the devices and the application server.

SIM to SIM Messaging

KORE’s SIMs natively support SMS MO (Mobile Originate) and SMS MT (Mobile Terminate) messages between KORE SIMs as well as other third party GSM and CDMA devices. KORE assigns a phone number to each SIM, allowing it to send messages to another device phone number (KORE based or third party) and receive messages sent to its own phone number. This is a standard capability and requires no additional services or interconnect.

Inter-Carrier Message Service (ICMS) with Virtual Numbers

KORE can also provide Inter-Carrier Messaging Services (SMS messages sent and received with third party networks) through our SMS Gateway Virtual Number service. Using this service with an SMPP connection, KORE assigns your application server a Virtual phone Number. Through your Virtual phone Number, your application can send and receive SMS messages to most wireless networks in North America.

GSM

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Services

The KORE GPRS Service provides the standard wireless transport for services and applications that use IP protocols over the Internet. Data may be transmitted at speeds up to 115 kbps, although this is generally restricted by device design and is more typically in the 30-40kbps range. 

EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) Services

With real data rates between 90kbps and 120kbps, EDGE significantly outperforms other existing coast-to-coast coverage wireless networks. Importantly, EDGE capable devices are increasingly becoming available at affordable prices. KORE currently provides EDGE services throughout North America, and in a number of overseas roaming markets, transparently. And, if those networks do not support EDGE data rate, devices will still provide service on the underlying GPRS service structure, transparently to the application. As KORE only charges for used throughput, not connect time, customers business model remains unaffected. Using GSM Networks in the USA, Canada and most other countries supporting GSM/GPRS/EDGE wireless networks, KORE’s GPRS and EDGE services include network authentication, private dynamic IP assignment, DNS resolution and Internet termination of data traffic.

HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) Services

HSPA takes GSM to true broadband levels, with real-world data rates between 500 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps, and peak speeds of 3.6 Mbps, today, with future promise for even higher data rates. Any application using GPRS or EDGE will function well on HSPA, since it provides higher than average throughputs and significantly lower latency. Devices will automatically, transparently fall back to EDGE or GPRS if ever outside of HSPA coverage, whether fixed or mobile. KORE offers a range of attractive HSPA services to power your broadband and low latency applications. With Tier 1, Direct Connect partnerships to provide the best GSM service and coverage in the USA, Canada and other countries around the world, KORE’s wholesale GPRS, EDGE and HSPA services include network authentication, private static and dynamic IP assignment, DNS resolution and Internet delivery of data right into the customers data centre.

CDMA

1xRTT Services

The KORE 1xRTT service provides ubiquitous flat-rated service throughout North America at typical data rates of around 70 kbps, with bursts of over 100 kbps. Ideally suited for mobile low to mid applications, 1xRTT is inexpensive and reliable.

EV-DO Services

With data rates between 400 kbps and 700 kbps, the EV-DO KORE network delivers, with low latency and very attractive rates for bandwidth-hungry applications such as surveillance monitoring and mobile advertising displays.

Typically, when using KORE’s advanced data services, there will be a need to implement dedicated technical interconnect into the KORE Telematics network operations centre.

VPN Interconnect

KORE provides VPN interconnect services for two primary reasons. The first reason is to create a highly secure data transmission environment. For applications using secure data such as payment transactions, a VPN connection encrypts the data to the application over the Internet. The second – and often critical – reason for a VPN is to allow two-way communications from/to the application and the devices when using socketless protocols such as UDP. This is also needed if customers want to track state and IP information for the device, or initiate communications with the device from the server. 

KORE provides a standard Internet-based VPN service deployment using dedicated, fault-tolerant VPN concentrators. Customers do not need to implement a complicated frame relay or leased line connection. Customers will experience the benefits of establishing a tunnel across the Internet directly to KORE utilising IPSec encryption to ensure that transmissions are secure.

KORE provisioning is based on VPN interconnects that leverage either client/server based software or site to site hardware based configuration.

SMS Interconnect

Whether using KORE’s SMS Gateway Service with Short Codes or KORE’s Inter-Carrier Message Service with Virtual Numbers, customers applications will require an interconnect into the KORE SMS Gateway. The standard SMS interconnect protocol is SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer). KORE supports v3.4 of this specification. 
KORE also provides a comprehensive SMPP application test plan to ensure that applications are running to specification. As with KORE’s VPN implementations, KORE can generally provide an SMS Interconnect, using KORE’s own self-managed Short Codes or Virtual Numbers.

Dedicated Service Identities

M2M communications paths are established for the long haul. Recognising this, KORE provides dedicated service identities where required in order to ensure that any information customers embed into the solutions will not change. With KORE’s VPN services, all IP addresses assigned as part of the configuration will remain with the customer. If this IP address is a destination IP hard coded into the device, customers will know that this IP will not change and be confident of the long term stability of the deployment plans and activities. The same is true for Short Codes or Virtual Numbers. Once a production Short Code or Virtual Number is assigned to the partner, it is theirs to implement in their solutions, knowing that it will not change.

KORE Global Connect™ – M2M Connectivity Services

KORE Telematics, in partnership with its leading multi-national cellular and satellite carrier partners, now offers KORE Global Connect, its M2M communications services available in over 170 countries throughout the world. Unlike other providers who rely upon complex, limiting and often expensive international roaming agreements to provide similar services, KORE provides Tier 1, in-country network connectivity on multiple networks for highest availability.

Using 2G/3G GSM services worldwide, KORE delivers robust, high reliability M2M data services from its Geo-dispersed, 24/7 redundant data centres to companies with international connectivity needs, natively on Tier 1 networks to support critical business data access. This global network supports bi-directional IP data communications as well as mobile originate and mobile terminate SMS and low use ‘short burst’ satellite connectivity. All affordably served from a single provider and managed from a single business management platform and interface.

• With KORE Global Connect, customers realise the efficiencies and cost savings of having one single connection for true global connectivity, whether via M2M cellular network services or satellite. With one relationship to manage, one partner to integrate, one bill and one call for technical support, KORE is uniquely positioned to deliver on the needs of global M2M solution providers.
• KORE Global Connect is backed by a fully managed, redundant and fault tolerant network optimised for M2M services delivery with two or more connections into our cellular and satellite partners’ data centres to enable automatic fail-over and ensure network service delivery.
• The KORE Network has achieved more than 12 consecutive months of 99.999% availability.
• All of the APNs utilised in the KORE network are custom APNs with its carrier partners. This allows KORE to maximise network privacy, security, and reliability while offering comprehensive device management tools and connectivity options.
• KORE offers customers the option of exclusive use of a custom APN. Private circuit connections such as MPLS are also available.
• KORE offers several VPN options, including fully managed solutions, KORE supplied routers for customer data centre installation, and customer supplied termination equipment. These variations may be designed and implemented in ISP redundant and/or site redundant configurations.

KORE Global Connect serves many applications, including:

• Vehicle Location and Telematics
• Payment Processing
• Supply Chain and Asset Control
• Personal and Asset Security
• Health Care and Wellness Management
• Industrial Controls
• Environmental Monitoring
• Utilities

• Low-cost, instant Location solution available to every KORE Device
• Make any application ‘location-aware’
• No device modifications or software required. Service is 100% network based.
• Leverages Cell ID, ECID and Assisted GPS to provide primary or secondary locate service on KORE GSM or CDMA Networks in the US or Canada.
• Location Data presented via KORE PRiSMPro Network Coverage Maps or via API direct to your applications
• Use API functions to create geo-fences with alarm notifications or to set-up continuous device tracking
• Plan flexibility includes volume pricing plans available for all of your devices or pay-per-use plans available per device for occasional usage.
• Works with any device, including non-GPS enabled devices.

KORE LOCATE Solution Serves Many Applications:

• Vehicle Location and Telemetics
• Payment Processing
• Asset & Logistic Control
• Security
• Health Care
• Industrial Monitoring
• Utilities
• Environmental Services and more