Cisco to acquire Arch Rock; IP wireless network tech for smart grid

Cisco on Thursday announced that it would acquire privately-heldArch Rock Corporation, which specializes in wireless network technology for the smart grid.

The San Francisco-based firm fits in nicely with Cisco's announcement yesterday of its partnership with smart meter maker Itron, and gives the networking giant one more tool in its quest to move the utility industry toward an open, interoperable and "smart" power grid.

Specifically, Arch Rock's PhyNet-Grid wireless mesh technology is of interest. The tech allows utilities to connect smart meters and other distributed "intelligent" devices over a scalable, secure, multi-way wireless network.

The Arch Rock team will become part of Cisco's Smart Grid business unit by the end of 2010. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com