Cellular Modems and SCADA?

I've always been a private network radio guy. Well, at least as private as spread-spectrum is, but at least you still own the network. However, more and more, I'm hearing about the use of the public RF networks, in this case the cellular networks, being used for SCADA applications that have traditionally only used private radio. I think this is the case for three primary reasons:

1) People are becoming much more accepting of the cellular networks.
2) Cellular coverage (both CDMA and GSM) is much better than it used to be, and gets better every day.
3) There are fewer and fewer true RF 'experts' around now.

The last one bugs me, but it's the way of the world. Back in the day, a systems integrator or an engineering consultant always had at least one crusty, old RF guy that blessed all system designs, manufacturers, etc. Now, the younger generation views SCADA radios as simply 'wireless,' "plug them in, and they should work." This is a generation that grew up with cell phones and Wi-Fi. Why should they expect their SCADA wireless to be any different?

I've noticed that these youngsters turn their noses up at licensed radio, but are much more accepting of spread-spectrum, and even more enthusiastic about cellular modems. I recently took part in a seminar with a consulting engineering firm, and cellular modems garnered a significant amount of interest. Why? "Because you plug them in, and they work. There are no path-surveys, there is no network design. It's easier."

Anyway, I'm starting to come around to the idea. I have some customers and prospects evaluating these cellular modems right now, and the feedback has been very good. I think that these modems go beyond traditional SCADA and into the realm of M2M, but if it works in the M2M world, there's no technical reason why it can't work in the SCADA world as well.