Earlier this month a post on the Networking Exchange blog explored how machine-to-machine, or M2M, technologies are affecting the development of Government 2.0, especially at the local level:

In government applications, M2M allows network-ready devices to connect and share real-time data – from trash trucks to street sweepers, and parking meters to utility meters. By monitoring and managing devices remotely, M2M helps automate and increase the efficiency of many government functions.

In many industries, M2M is historically known as “telemetry” or industrial automation. You may be familiar with such M2M applications as OnStar, or the team up between Ford and AT&T to connect the new Ford Focus Electric. More and more, M2M technologies give otherwise inanimate objects a voice to provide information back to their owners and the software necessary to turn information into intelligence.

You can read more here.