Healthy partnership
Intel has announced the formation of an alliance with GE Healthcare, which will bring products to market targeting the potentially huge telehealth market.
The two companies will invest $250 million in the partnership. It will initially involve GE bringing the Intel Health Guide to market, a device that's designed to provide remote monitoring and assistance to people suffering from chronic conditions.
With aging populations in most developed countries, demand for this sort of thing is expected to boom. A study cited in the press release predicted the market would grow from $3 billion this year to $7.7 billion by 2012.
"The GE and Intel partnership will not only help seniors and the chronically ill, but will also take a giant step forward in changing how healthcare is delivered," said Intel CEO Paul Otellini.
"We think this partnership offers the potential to lower costs by keeping people out of hospitals while giving health professionals the data they need to deliver the best possible care," added GE CEO Jeff Immelt.
Intel got the all clear to develop the Health Guide (below) from US regulators back in July last year and it looks like GE will give it the expertise and commercial contacts within the healthcare sectors it needs to bring it to market.
