Sprint’s New Command Center Portal Supports Wireless Device Management

Sprint has launched its M2M Command Center, a secure Web portal to allow enterprises to control thousands of wireless devices used in industries such as health care, transportation and energy management.

Health care will be the primary industry using Command Center, as health agencies will be able to track wireless devices that medical patients use to manage chronic health conditions at home, according to Wayne Ward, vice president of the Sprint Emerging Solutions Group.

Caregiversuse wireless devices in home health kits to manage chronic conditions such as asthma, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension and obesity, Ward wrote in an email to eWEEK.

Introduced on June 21, Command Center can also track people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It will also help people manage devices for fitness and weight management, Ward said.

“Patients will benefit from the Sprint Command Center because they will have more access to easy-to-use wireless home health care devices,” Ward said. “Plus health care companies will be able to activate and manage connected devices quickly, getting them into the patient’s hands sooner.”

In addition to managing patients at home, Command Center will help businesses control billing, manage services and develop M2M (Machine-to-Machine) applications. M2M allows multiple devices to communicate and transmit data.

Command Center’s Business Rule Engine allows users to view detailed usage records and set billing triggers for devices based on usage.

In addition to applications in health care, utility companies could use Command Center to manage utility meters. Workers who remotely manage multiple digital signs may also use the portal.

Command Center can control remote sensors in any device supporting Sprint’s wireless technology, including various consumer appliances.

“Coupled with Sprint’s proven experience in M2M solutions management, Sprint Command Center helps drive enhanced innovation in functions that depend on reliable, fast communication, including energy management, transportation, telematics, mobile health care, mobile security and digital signage,” Ward said.

Businesses access the Command Center portal using direct API access. Companies will retain flexibility on the types of wireless devices the platform will manage. Devices can be added, removed, suspended or unsuspended. In addition a “shoulder-tap” feature lets users awaken a powered-down device.

Users access the portal through a secure VPN and static IP addresses. Devices don’t require separate chargers, according to Sprint.

A remote control interface provides access to key management tasks. Users can preschedule wireless devices to operate at specific times of the day or at a certain location, as well handle specific tasks, such as monitoring a patient’s blood sugar.

Mobile application developers will be able to customize Command Center to manage their wireless devices using integrated kits and modules.

Meanwhile, Command Center’s reporting feature allows users to assess how well the devices have performed each task.

Ecotality, a clean electric transportation and storage technologies company, has already adopted an early version of Command Center to remotely power its electric charging stations in 18 cities.

“We are able to leverage the Sprint Command Center to manage the growing number of electric charging stations-including remote activation and upgrades, plus the ability to collect data wirelessly for billing, security and other services,” Jonathan Read, CEO of Ecotality, said in a statement.