Cisco strikes again
Cisco Systems living up to its reputation as an addictive serial acquirer, started off the year by announcing that it has agreed to buy IronPort Systems, a US company that writes network security software. The deal is for $820 million. IronPort software filters spam and checks for viruses and spyware.
One attraction for Cisco is that IronPort uses a subscription system, whereby users get constant updates. That's nothing unique in the business, but it is something new for Cisco.
The pace of acquisitions has been unrelenting at Cisco. The biggest one was Cisco's break-out move to buy into TV set top box business, by buying Atlanta Scientific in 2005.
But there have been many more over the last two years.
2006
- Greenfield Networks, a company specializing in chips for Ethernet switching
- Orative Corp., a firm that manages voicemail for cell phones
- Tivella, a maker of digital signage software
- Arroyo Video Systems, a maker of software for on0-demand television.
- Meetinghouse Data Communications, a company creating wireless security software
- Metrios, a provider of software tools
- Audium, also a provider of software tools
- SyPixx Networks, a maker of networked video surveillance software and hardware
2005
- Nemo Systems, a specialist in network memory
- Sheer Networks, An Israeli company making intelligent network software
- KISS Technology, a Danish developer of solutions for networked entertainment systems
- NetSift, which makes software for packet switching
- FineGround, which makes software that speeds up applications across networks
- AireSpace a specialist in wireless local area networking (WLAN)
- Topspin Communications, a provider of networking switches
- Sipura Technologies, a provider of software for voice over internet (VOIP) telephony.
- Vihana, a maker of semiconductors used in network devices
THe wonder, as always, is how the company can integrate all these new puzzle pieces at teh rate they are coming in. But for Cisco, with its core makret maturing, the hope has to be to find the next big moneymaker among all these comapnies (and their patents).
7:20:09 PM 
|
|
