A new GSM Association (GSMA) initiative involving Huawei and eight major mobile operators aims to put 3G connectivity into a range of devices across the consumer electronics, clean energy, healthcare, transport and utilities sectors. The GSMA's 'Embedded Mobile' initiative wants to encourage manufacturers from outside the telecoms industry to include 3G modules in everything from cameras and cars to environmental sensors and electricity meters. The modules, which consist of a 3G modem and software, can relay a continuous stream of real-time data and images which, for example, could monitor a vehicle’s tyres and electrics for early signs of any faults.

The operators involved in the project are South Korea's KTF, Canada's Rogers Wireless, The Philippines's Smart, Japan's Softbank, Telefonica, Australia's Telstra, Telecom Italia and Vodafone. The hope is to attract other telecoms vendors and mobile operators into the initiative. One of the initiative's first priorities is to develop a common application interface (API) so that consumer products with embedded 3G modules will work with any 3G network. The goal is to produce an API by the second half of next year.

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