Wireless War Erupts Over ‘Internet of Things’

Cellular and Wi-Fi networks are good for connecting smartphones, tablets and laptops. But different technology may be needed when things such as parking meters and vending machines need to communicate. That is the thesis driving a crop of companies promoting a new breed of wireless networks.  Silver Spring Networks Inc.,  a Silicon Valley company best known for developing systems that let utility meters transmit data on energy usage, is the latest to unveil a plan to connect a variety of industrial and consumer machines collectively known as the Internet of Things, or IoT.