Over the past few years, we’ve seen Smart grid and IT technology vendors change their approach to the utility data analytics. Recently two smart network firms, Itron and Silver Spring Networks, have outlined a similar direction to their future development. Both US firms, who reported impressive third-quarter earnings last week, used the opportunity to highlight how they’re picking up traction in a slow market and lay out their next field of competition – the internet of things (IoT). “Smart cities and Internet of Things applications and interoperability in industrial communications are driving new IoT opportunities”, said Itron CEO Philip Mezey in the opening comments of his Q3 earnings call. Offering city planners a range of solutions, Itron has evolved significantly from its founding 40 years ago as a business solely focused on electricity meter technology. The company now offers end-to-end integrated solutions, which it characterizes as network communications, data-collection systems, meter-data management software, and other […]