Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Tue, February 3, 2009
Itron and Digi International Partner to Develop Smart Grid Applications
MINNETONKA, Minn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) and Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) announced today their collaboration to enable utilities to remotely monitor and control distribution automation (DA) devices utilizing the OpenWay advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network by Itron. The agreement further enhances the electric utility industry's investment in OpenWay, and expands upon Digi's comprehensive family of Drop-in Networking connectivity solutions.
The combination of Digi's ConnectPort® X gateway with OpenWay will allow devices like capacitor banks, reclosures and metering products to communicate. This can reduce equipment and operational costs, enabling utilities to automate and control a larger number of grid points. This will also increase reliability, efficiency and security of the electric grid and enhance the business justification for AMI deployment. The gateway technology will be built upon industry standards such as distributed network protocol (DNP) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C12.22.
"Digi complements OpenWay by bridging common technology standards toward the advancement of Smart Grid adoption," said Russ Vanos, Itron vice president of marketing. "We're thrilled to expand Itron's growing portfolio of Smart Grid solutions with Digi's industry-leading expertise in device networking."
OpenWay is an AMI solution that utilizes smart electricity meters and advanced two-way communication networks between the utility and each meter. OpenWay delivers operational efficiency, empowers all customers to participate in energy management and conservation, and is often the first milestone in connecting utilities to the Smart Grid.
Digi provides IP connectivity over Ethernet, WiFi, and cellular network connections, and has successfully connected to equipment from leading DA providers for more than 20 years, with equipment installed by over 100 utilities. By adding OpenWay connectivity options, Digi will provide the industry's most flexible suite of Smart Grid solutions available.
"Digi's Drop-in Networking architecture was designed to accommodate a wide range of industry standards," said Larry Kraft, senior vice president of global sales and marketing, Digi International. "Leveraging Itron's standards-based OpenWay solution will further strengthen our ability to establish long-lasting partnerships with utilities, distribution automation equipment providers and applications integrators."
Digi's Drop-in Networking family includes the ConnectPort X family of gateways and Digi's popular XBee® family of radio modules. This enables the gateway to connect wirelessly to local devices using a wide variety of radio protocols including ZigBee® to maximize the flexibility of Smart Grid architectures.
About Itron:
Itron Inc. is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. Itron Inc. consists of Itron in North America and Actaris outside of North America. Our company is the world's leading provider of metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on our technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Our products include electricity, gas and water meters, data collection and communication systems, including automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI); meter data management and related software applications; as well as project management, installation, and consulting services. To know more, start here: [ www.itron.com ].
About Digi International
[ Digi International ], the leader in device networking for business, develops reliable products and technologies to connect and securely manage local or remote electronic devices over the network or via the web. Digi offers the highest levels of performance, flexibility and quality, and markets its products through a global network of distributors and resellers, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). For more information, visit Digi's Web site at [ www.digi.com ], or call 877-912-3444.
All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
