A manufacturer of machine-to-machine (M2M) communicators for remote asset tracking, monitoring and control over multiple satellite and terrestrial networks, Quake Global, Inc. (“QUAKE”), has announced the immediate availability of the Q4000 data modem. The modem is designed for fixed and mobile applications.

In a press release, Sergio Ramos, QUAKE CTO, said, “Our customers have asked for a single modem that can utilize the most economically appropriate communication signal to meet the needs of their customer’s varied usage patterns. The Q4000 provides that. It performs reliably in remote and severe environments, is user programmable, allowing a custom application reflecting each customer’s needs, can switch between cell and satellite for the most cost-effective airtime usage and is the most economical multi-satellite solution on the market, bar none.”

Functions of the Q4000 data modem are:

--It is a flexible solution that provides cost-effective global M2M communications with land, marine or aviation based assets and equipment such as heavy machinery, trucks, ships and containers.

--It is also ideally suited for predictive maintenance, hours of service and DOT compliance.

--Isolated power substations and remote metering facilities can also be more effectively monitored and managed.

Though small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, QUAKE has designed a rugged, power efficient modem capable of communicating across any satellite or terrestrial network, an industry first. The Q4000 is also highly customizable. In addition to multiple network configurations and optional GPS to serve a variety of markets and price points, options include CAN bus, memory, antenna detection, multiple analog and digital inputs/outputs and relays.

The Application Programming Interface (API) supports QUAKE Messaging Manager (QMM), which is the only programming interface that enables programmers to develop their custom applications only once. Those applications in turn function seamlessly regardless of the desired network or protocol, without the need for additional programming. Network selection is dynamic and user defined. From the customer’s viewpoint, the footprint, processing and interconnections remain constant, while the network is selected based on user-defined circumstances such as signal strength, cost, latency, geo-location, etc.

Quake was in news last month when it acquired Stellar Satellite Communications Ltd and planned to establish an office in Virginia with an aim to improve its customer service and sales efforts.