SAN JOSE, Calif.-Computer networking equipment market leader Cisco Systems Inc. announced two acquisitions it said are designed to strengthen the company’s interests in the wireless arena.
Cisco plans to buy privately held InfoGear Technology Corp. for $301 million and JetCell Inc. for $200 million, both in stock-for-stock transactions. That equals a total investment of $501 million in wireless-related concerns.
JetCell is a provider of in-building wireless solutions for corporate networks based on Global System for Mobile communications and Internet Protocol standards. Cisco said it bought the company to offer voice-over-IP services to enterprise customers. Particularly, Cisco said it will integrate JetCell’s technology to extend its AVVID architecture into the wireless domain, integrating New World IP telephony solutions with traditional Private Branch Exchange systems. The company’s solutions are still in a test phase.
InfoGear makes Internet software and products used to manage information appliances. Cisco said it is acquiring the company to offer service providers, businesses and vertical markets a solution that delivers and manages services to various types of information appliances. “InfoGear’s hardware and software … will allow our customers to remotely manage and upgrade information appliances from a central location, deliver customized content to any information appliance and offer advanced New World integrated services,” Cisco said in a statement.
