(By Balachander) General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) have agreed to integrate Google Maps data into GE's Smallworld Geospatial-based applications.
GE, an industrial conglomerate, expects the integration to help utilities boost productivity based on the ability to visualize and analyze their data with its Smallworld products.
"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 said.
GE noted its Smallworld geospatial services design and model complex network infrastructures while supporting asset management lifecycle processes for companies with complex network asset management problems.
Under the agreement, Google's Android platform will be used by GE to augment its existing portfolio of Geospatial systems and mobile products.
In addtion, GE said its Distribution Management Systems and Outage Management Systems will use Google's mapping content in the context of operational control of electricity networks.
"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.
On Tuesday, GE shares inched up 0.45 percent to trade at $22.55, while GOOG shares rose 0.37 percent to $785.35.