M2M

Originally it was an acronym for a B2B play in which electronic exchanges connect manufacturers to each other and streamline business processes. The term has since morphed into online jargon, also known as text message shorthand, and refers to mobile-to-mobile convergence.

Historical perspective: According to BigThink.com in 2011, the next stage of the Internet's development is the "Web of Things." Simply put, this means that the normal, everyday things—appliances, buildings, cars—will be hooked into the web and able to transmit and receive information independently of you. AT&T announced a major partnership with four companies that specialized in M2M application development this week. Meanwhile, Vodaphone and Intel confirmed that they would jointly develop a kit for companies wanting to implement M2M functionality in their products.