A new agreement announced today between GE (NYSE: GE) and Google
(NASDAQ: GOOG) will integrate Google Maps data into GE’s Smallworld™
electrical, telecommunications and gas applications. GE, a leading
provider of geospatial analytical tools and insight, and Google, a
provider of map services with more than 1 billion monthly active users,
will help utilities increase productivity based on the ability to
visualize and analyze their data with GE’s Smallworld product suite. The
combined solution will enhance the existing network visualization
capabilities and will allow utility customers to receive incremental
efficiency and productivity of operations in the field. By enhancing the
ability to visualize data on a map, utility customers will be able to
quickly provide their end-use customers with important information such
as outage restoration times and will help to more efficiently manage
their network assets.
“We are relentlessly looking at ways to bring value to our customers and
this agreement brings together two world-leading solutions providers to
help improve productivity,” said Bryan Friehauf, product line
leader—software solutions for GE’s Digital Energy business. “Millions of
people are already familiar with Google Maps as seen on their computer
screens in the office or on mobile devices in the field. Now we’re able
to bring that familiarity to our Smallworld products so that our
customers can use a platform that’s completely customized for their
assets and networks.”
GE developed a set of small focused applications for the Web, mobile
devices and desktops. Google’s rich mapping content will form an
integral part of GE’s solutions, strengthening the existing geospatial
capabilities of GE’s Smallworld products by providing out-of-the-box
base mapping as well as visualization and analytics capabilities. GE’s
Distribution Management Systems and Outage Management Systems also will
utilize Google’s mapping content in the context of operational control
of electricity networks. Notably, for field operators, GE will utilize
Google’s Android platform to augment its existing portfolio of mobile
products. The new portable solution will integrate Google Maps,
providing better contextual information to users in the field.
"By using Google Maps and our API offering, GE is providing its
customers with the advantage of a simple and intuitive user interface.
Because so many people already know how to use Google Maps, this allows
GE’s Smallworld technology to be an even more powerful enterprise
solution,” said Tarun Bhatnagar, director, Google Geo Enterprise. “Both
GE and Google have a heritage of innovation, and we look forward to
working together to provide new ways to use and visualize data on a map.”
GE’s Smallworld geospatial solutions efficiently design and model
complex network infrastructures while supporting asset management
lifecycle processes and producing solutions for companies with complex
network asset management problems. The agreement will deliver those
solutions for applications such as business intelligence, engineering,
Web clients, schematics, corridor management and enterprise gateway.
“We believe together, GE and Google will utilize their unique
combination of technical talent and capabilities to significantly
enhance the efficiency of their operations in a wide array of
applications,” said Friehauf. “Ultimately, our customers will notice
significant benefits from this new agreement."
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best
technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in
energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering,
moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For
more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
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