OREANDA-NEWS. GE International Inc. and Fujitsu Limited today announced an agreement to bring GE's industry-leading Geographic Information System (GIS), Smallworld, to market in Japan. The Smallworld GIS will be coupled with Fujitsu's systems integration, maintenance, and operations services, to offer utility customers the premier GIS software solution in Japan.

GE's Smallworld GIS is a packaged software solution which has played a key role in the construction, operation, maintenance, and management of critical network assets in more than 1,300 companies world-wide. GE's comprehensive suite of integrated tools enable customers to lower the cost of asset ownership, simplify critical network infrastructures and deliver the flexibility required to meet the dynamic network requirements of utility customers in the electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications sectors.

"We believe the combined offering of GE's Smallworld and Fujitsu's systems integration, maintenance, and operations services will meet market demand for more comprehensive asset management solutions," said Youichi Ishida, Deputy Head of Government & Public Utilities Business Unit, Public Sector & Regional Sales Group, Fujitsu Limited.

Smallworld provides a powerful, consistent architecture at the heart of many applications, such as those used for planning electric, gas and water distribution systems, designing telecommunications networks and evaluating strategic market opportunities. The software integrates with other products that require spatial information, including systems for customer relationship management, market analysis, and network and work management.

"GE has deep domain expertise helping utility customers around the world get the most out of their network assets," said Hideo Nemoto, senior sales manager, GE's Grid Solutions. "Utilizing Fujitsu's sales and support network in Japan, as well as its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems-building capabilities, is the ideal way to serve our utility customers and meet the growing need for advanced asset management solutions in Japan.