#M2MBarometer 'Magnificent Seven' stats

We've published the third annual Vodafone M2M Barometer Report - the leading global survey of the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) sector.

Here are seven things about M2M the world didn't know yesterday

1. Once you start with M2M, you just don't stop - 81% of companies are using it more than last year

2. The more sophisticated, the more successful - 83% of ‘sophisticated users’ (for instance, those integrating data analysis or using it for more than one application) report "significant" return on investment

3. Everybody's talking about it - 76% of companies asked are now aware of M2M up 24% on last year and 90% say it is relevant to their organisation

4. Shops are the new hot spots for M2M - retail sector use of M2M has grown 88%

5. The Americas know how to make money from this

US return on investment is the fastest of any region globally

41

41% saw a return within six months

6. M2M is spreading - 66% of existing M2M users now say their strategy is focussed on external stakeholders, customers, suppliers and partners

7. It isn't just about the technology - 79% say that M2M is about improving business processes rather than buying technology and less than half of projects are charged to the IT budget