Cisco will buy software firm BroadSoft $1.71 billion in a bid to boost its software communications tools and diversify beyond its routing and switches products.
BroadSoft, which provides software to telecoms providers to enable them to offer unified communications over the Internet or though cloud services, will be integrated into Cisco’s collaboration portfolio, which include the likes of WebEx.
Given WebEx is based on-premise, having BroadSoft’s software portfolio under is banner should give Cisco more product to offer that go on top of cloud services rather than need to be used in a client’s data centre or on site.
“We chose BroadSoft as it provides a portfolio of cloud collaboration platforms and business applications, which strengthen our cloud investments and ability to deliver collaboration [products and services] to our global telecom provider customers,” said Rob Salvagno, vice president of corporate business development at Cisco.
“Following the close of the acquisition, Cisco and BroadSoft will provide a comprehensive SaaS portfolio of cloud based unified communications, collaboration, and contact centre software solutions and services for customers of all sizes.”
The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of the Cisco 2018 calendar year, and will be the 200th acquisition by the company, clearly indicating that is has a healthy appetite to buying in technology from smaller companies to boost its product and services portfolio.
At the same time Cisco is not adverse to exploring partnerships as well as acquisitions, having recently extended its mobile networking partnership with Apple.
Quiz: What do you know about the Internet of Things?
Share price hit after Meta admits heavy AI spending plans, after posting strong first quarter…
For third time Google delays phase-out of third-party Chrome cookies after pushback from industry and…
Elon Musk firm touts cheaper EV models, as profits slump over 50 percent in the…
Bad news for Tim Cook, as Counterpoint records 19 percent fall in iPhone sales in…
TikTok pledges to challenge 'unconstitutional' US ban in the courts, after President Joe Biden signs…
British regulator invites feedback on major partnerships Microsoft and Amazon have struck with smaller AI…