Sierra Wireless announced the launch of the latest additions to the AirPrime® HL Series of embedded wireless modules for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. The new AirPrime HL modules include satellite navigation support and are the smallest embedded wireless modules (22 x 23 mm) to be completely interchangeable across 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies. They provide device manufacturers with the ability to serve different regions, across multiple network technologies, with one device design.

The AirPrime HL Series is designed to be flexible, providing manufacturers with the choice of soldering down the module for efficient high-volume production, or using an innovative snap-in socket. With the snap-in socket, device manufacturers can quickly place the module in the device any time in the production cycle and swap 2G modules for 3G or 4G modules in the future, even in completed and field-deployed devices. With both the snap-in and solder-down options, manufacturers can leverage one design for their 2G, 3G, and 4G deployments, simply by changing the module installed in production – no other changes to the device design would be required.

In addition to the flexible hardware design, the AirPrime HL Series is designed to be future-proof. With AirVantage Management Service, an off-the-shelf cloud-based M2M platform from Sierra Wireless, customers can easily upgrade device firmware over-the-air for thousands or even millions of deployed devices at a time, ensuring they can stay in service for many years while lowering maintenance time and operating costs.

“We know that integrating new technology is one of the key challenges our customers face in their M2M deployments and it can prevent customers from deploying or evolving to new technologies as quickly as they would like to,” said Dan Schieler, Senior Vice President, OEM Solutions for Sierra Wireless. “The AirPrime HL Series meets that challenge head-on, providing a clear and simple 2G-to-4G migration path, the flexibility to swap modules as required, and effective, scalable firmware management for post-deployment upgrades. It’s an innovative solution to some of the most critical issues we see in M2M deployments across multiple industries.”

The AirPrime HL Series is ideal for M2M communications applications in point-of-sale, smart grid, and fleet management or tracking, with GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) included. Samples of the first product in the series, called the HL6528 (2G), are available now with commercial shipments expected to begin in the first quarter of 2014. Samples of the HL8548 (3G) are expected to be available in the first quarter, with commercial shipments expected in mid-2014. 4G LTE versions will follow, with more specific launch dates to be announced later.