Microsoft and GE Plan Healthcare IT Company

Microsoft and General Electric are to set up a global healthcare IT joint venture, the companies said on Wednesday.

The as-yet-unnamed company will develop an open, interoperable technology platform for clinical applications, Microsoft and GE said, adding that the apps would be created in-house. The platform will apparently connect to a "wide range" of healthcare IT products, the first of which will come from GE's own product line.

"High-quality, affordable healthcare is one of the biggest challenges facing every nation, but it's also an area where technology can make a huge difference," Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "Combining Microsoft's open, interoperable health platforms and software expertise with GE's experience and healthcare solutions will create exciting opportunities for patients and healthcare providers alike."