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elecommunications company PT Telkomsel has decided to dip its toes into the internet of things field through the launch of the T-Bike mobile app, which enables users to monitor and control several functions of their motorcycles through their smartphones.

In order to make its presence more visible in the digital world, the company has begun to enter the digital service territory by offering a piece of machine-to-machine (M2M) technology in the form of a device that can be attached to a motorcycle, which can then be controlled by the T-Bike mobile app.

Currently, it is only able to be used on Honda brand motorcycles, but more brands including Yamaha could get involved as soon as April.

Telkomsel general manager of M2M product development Alfian Manulang explained that the idea for the app arose from the numerous cases of motorcycle theft and the frequency of motorcycle accidents in Indonesia. With the T-Bike app, he said, users were able to track the location of their vehicles at all times, as well as monitor and assess the road conditions when they are driving.

Another feature, Alfian explained, is the ability for businesses to monitor the state of their fleets and their operations. Telkomsel has partnered with a number of restaurant chains including McDonald'€™s, Bakmi GM and Carl'€™s Jr. to make their delivery motorcycles T-Bike-compatible to help them ensure greater control over their vehicles.

'€œThe focus of the app from the beginning was to assist businesses that operate a fleet of motorcycles for their operations, mostly food delivery services, or even businesses that have only begun their operations. So through this app, we are aiming for a more intensified hold on our corporate market,'€ he said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Telkomsel'€™s vice president for M2M business, Jaka Susanta, added that the T-Bike application was one step for Telkomsel to inch into the online transportation business and emphasized that it was not above collaborating with similar companies that provide that service.

'€œRegarding collaborations, we just held talks with a company that provides online transportation services, but I can'€™t disclose the results yet. But this app is very suitable to be used by companies that have large fleet numbers, especially if they are personally owned, because the motorcycle is a valuable business and personal asset to secure,'€ he elaborated.

Technically speaking, the T-Bike service is currently only able to be used within the Greater Jakarta area.

Jaka added that the company would continually update the features of the T-Bike device, with the hope that it would eventually be able to monitor such stats as fuel efficiency and navigation, as well as make it more convenient for biking communities and touring practices.

T-Bike is part of the company'€™s efforts to perfect its T-Drive roadmap. T-Drive was previously an onboard GPS-powered device operating through Telkomsel'€™s Driving Analytics system that is able to assess a four-wheeled vehicle'€™s real-time engine data as well as analyze the driving conditions.

The roadmap serves as Telkomsel'€™s primary instrument to secure the automotive market.