M2M specialist Telit says one of its new modules has won the approval of Sprint for use on the operator’s US cellular network.

Telit (London, UK) says the new CE910-DUAL cellular M2M module is ideal for embedded applications requiring easy integration, but also suited to platforms based on Windows and Linux operating systems.

The manufacturer reckons it is particularly appropriate for applications such as vending, tracking, smart metering and telematics.

Module maker Sierra Wireless has reported a halving of its net loss for the first quarter of the year as it targets future M2M acquisitions to consolidate its position in the fast-developing industry.

Reporting in non-GAAP terms – which, it claims, gives a better sense of underlying operational performance – the company said that its net loss from continuing operations shrank to $1.4 million from approximately $2.8 million in the year-earlier quarter.

Shipments of so-called MFF2 SIM cards designed to withstand the harsh conditions of various M2M deployments rose by 42%, to 5 million, between 2011 and 2012, according to new figures released by trade association the SIMalliance.

The organization said the increase illustrates the potential of the M2M opportunity and expects to see further growth in the next few months as applications are introduced in new vertical markets.

Module maker Sierra Wireless has launched a new 3G wireless gateway designed to support M2M services across a range of industrial, enterprise and transportation applications.

The AirLink LS300 is billed as a successor to the company’s AirLink Raven gateways, which Sierra Wireless (Richmond, Canada) says have been successfully used in a wide variety of M2M deployments.

These range from monitoring soil conditions in vineyards or vibrations in historic buildings to delivering messages to roadside traffic signs or photos from red light cameras, according to Sierra Wireless.

M2M module maker Sierra Wireless says it has become a sponsor of crowdsourcing platform MedStartr and will henceforth be the preferred provider of wireless communications technology for MedStartr companies.

MedStartr says it will gain direct access to a full range of connectivity solutions from Sierra Wireless (Richmond, Canada), helping MedStartr companies to accelerate product development.

Module maker Telit has continued its international push by signing a deal with Brazil’s CAS Tecnologia that will boost its presence in Latin America’s burgeoning M2M market.

The partnership will see Telit’s technology and services combined with CAS Tecnologia’s telemetry platforms and solutions.

CAS Tecnologia (Sao Paolo, Brazil) says collaboration with Telit (London, UK) will allow it to “modernize”.

Middle East operator du has signaled its strong interest in M2M through a new partnership with hardware vendor Gemalto.

The operator says it will use Gemalto’s machine identification modules (MIMs) in all of its major M2M initiatives across a variety of end markets, including the oil and gas, retail, healthcare, power management and transportation sectors.

M2M specialist Numerex has announced that its customer base has surpassed the 2 million mark, with surging growth providing evidence of the current momentum in the M2M industry.

The company, which provides M2M services and technology for enterprise and government customers worldwide, says that it took several years to reach the 1 million mark but only two years to double its customer base from that level.

Aiming to expand its business in what looks set to become the world’s largest M2M market, module maker Telit has unveiled two CDMA modules developed specifically for use in China.

The manufacturer’s CE910-SC and DE910-SC modules have been designed for Chinese M2M applications using CDMA network standards and R-UIM card technology.

Swedish network-equipment vendor Ericsson has formed an alliance with Dutch digital-security specialist Gemalto aimed at simplifying the adoption of M2M services.

The companies say their partnership will address operators’ need to meet enterprise M2M requirements and for sophisticated business-process integration.

It will combine Ericsson’s Device Connection Platform with Gemalto’s Subscription Management Platform, providing “an integrated M2M solution”.