A system for collection and distribution of machine data via a cellular communication device, said system comprising: an electronic control module located on a machine, the electronic control module including a serial data port and being configured to: collect operation data associated with the machine, and generate multiple text messages containing the operation data; a personal area network, PAN, control module and a PAN communication dongle that interfaces with the serial data port, thereby configuring the electronic control module to support PAN communications via the serial data port, the PAN communication dongle being removably coupled to the electronic control module via the serial data port, the PAN control module being configured to: wirelessly detect a mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device carried by an operator of the machine and proximate the PAN control module; and transmit the multiple text messages containing the operation data to the mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device such that the mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device carried by the operator of the machine transmits the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data by transmitting the multiple text messages containing the operation data to the condition monitoring system over the cellular network using a text messaging service. an electronic control module located on a machine, the electronic control module including a serial data port and being configured to: collect operation data associated with the machine, and generate multiple text messages containing the operation data; collect operation data associated with the machine, and generate multiple text messages containing the operation data; a personal area network, PAN, control module and a PAN communication dongle that interfaces with the serial data port, thereby configuring the electronic control module to support PAN communications via the serial data port, the PAN communication dongle being removably coupled to the electronic control module via the serial data port, the PAN control module being configured to: wirelessly detect a mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device carried by an operator of the machine and proximate the PAN control module; and transmit the multiple text messages containing the operation data to the mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device such that the mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device carried by the operator of the machine transmits the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network, wirelessly detect a mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device carried by an operator of the machine and proximate the PAN control module; and transmit the multiple text messages containing the operation data to the mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device such that the mobile PAN-compatible cellular communication device carried by the operator of the machine transmits the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data by transmitting the multiple text messages containing the operation data to the condition monitoring system over the cellular network using a text messaging service.