By Greentech Lead Team: Ice Energy, a provider of energy
storage solution for the utility industry, announced that it has deployed
machine-to-machine (M2M) services from AT&T. AT&T’s Enterprise
On-Demand platform, a custom web portal that controls wireless device
inventory, enables Ice Energy to remotely manage, monitor, and diagnose its ice
machines.
Ice Energy provides ice machines, known
as Ice Bear units, mounted on top of medium to large-size commercial buildings.
These ice machines offer an alternative to power-guzzling air conditioning
systems. The Ice Bear system works in conjunction with AC units by generating
ice at night and cooling buildings during the hottest hours of the day.
Each Ice Bear system wirelessly connects to a router with
an embedded SIM that transmits real-time information on the status and
performance of each ice unit. This data is instantly available to Ice Energy on
any web-enabled device.
“Having instant access and control to the
performance of our systems is a key benefit to our business. Is the system
freezing water at night? Is it connecting properly to the AC units? Do we need
to issue any trouble tickets? Should we change any diagnostics? This sort of
information is invaluable to running fast and effective operations,”
said Brian
Parsonnet, chief technology officer, Ice Energy.
By using AT&T’s M2M solutions, Ice Energy can
remotely control, program, and adjust any Ice Bear machine, saving time and
freeing up resources. The service simplified service provisioning and billing
for the system and offers scalability for the company, which can now adapt to
higher levels of demand and deploy more Ice Bear units at a decreased cost.
AT&T’s M2M solutions allow companies like Ice Energy
to sense issues with equipment, analyze the problem, and respond to the
situation in a quick and cost-effective manner.
Recently, AT&T and America Movil signed a
strategic agreement to deliver enhanced communication services to global
companies throughout Latin America and to “multilatinas” in the rest
of the world.