Verizon Wireless and Itron announced a joint marketing agreement for development of secure, two-way communications that support utilities’ access to energy usage data and advance their smart grid projects. 
The Itron “OpenWay” Cell Relay will operate on the Verizon Wireless network to more collect, measure and manage energy data on behalf of utility companies.
A primary component of Itron’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution, OpenWay by Itron, the OpenWay Cell Relay is the router for the Itron radio frequency local-area network (RFLAN). The relay, which has passed the Verizon Wireless open development compliance process, solidifies integration between the OpenWay RFLAN and the wide-area network (WAN) provided by Verizon Wireless’ CDMA (1x EV-DO and 1xRTT) wireless data network. The Verizon Wireless network is now available as a WAN backhaul connection option in the OpenWay architecture. Ultimately, this provides a secure approach to data collection and communications with the meter or other smart grid devices.
Itron said the communications architecture of its OpenWay complies with the American National Standards Institute C12.22 protocol for transport of device data over a network and remains independent of any particular communications technology.
http://www.verizonwireless.com
http://www.itron.com
