South Korea's No. 1 mobile carrier, SK Telecom Co., said Monday it has joined hands with 10 global telecommunication firms to seek cooperation in developing machine-to-machine technologies.
SK Telecom said it has joined the so-called Bridge M2M Alliance with players in a handful of Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam and India, as well as with an Australian mobile carrier.
The M2M technology allows both wireless and fixed-line systems to communicate with other machines, providing customized services to users by collecting data and exchanging them among devices.
The BMA is comprised of Asia-Pacific members of Bridge Alliance, a global carrier union, which has 31 members under its wing.
The group aims to offer a one-stop service on the M2M to companies in Asia-Pacific, allowing mobile carriers to cut operational costs and add to their conveniences.
The latest move came as mobile carriers previously had to make deals individually to tap markets overseas, which posed challenges in business procedures.
Under the deal, SK Telecom said it aims to develop M2M-related services and products that transcend national boundaries.
SK Telecom said it also aims to expand cooperation with mobile carriers in the United States and Europe down the road. (Yonhap News)
