ARM is collaborating with wireless network service provider Sprint to develop a range of network-enabled smart appliances and other devices for cars, energy firms and even hospitals.

Their initial plans involve delivery of a developer kit which combines Sprint modem hardware with ARM architecture processors and is designed to allow engineers to develop devices armed with a Sierra Wireless 598U 3G modem and ARM Cortex M3 processor.

The bundled development platform will be designed to allow developers to write code on a 32-bit C++ architecture, simplifying the design process. Initial targets for the developer platform are automobiles, utilities and healthcare in which devices are increasingly being refitted with network connectivity.