Let the smart grid vendor consolidation begin!

OK everyone, time to get out your betting pool forms to figure out who might be next in the smart grid M&A game. With the market turning at least somewhat positive and federal funds, in theory at least, following into smart grid projections, there are bound to be plenty of unions and takeovers among the smart grid tech crowd over the next six months.

Today's example: Silver Spring Networks, which develops smart grid IP communications technology, is snapping up Greenbox Technology, which sells an interactive energy management portal that you can use a tracking interface. The companies aren't saying what the deal is worth. They say economy of scale for sales was a key reason for the union.

Personally speaking, I think that many of the pure play players need to build scale or they will be gobbled up by all the big high-tech vendors circling this space. IBM and Cisco both have the pockets to be acquisitive. Just be careful before you engage in a smart grid project or your supplier might not be around next year.