Avaya Inc.is expanding its videoconferencing and telepresence lineup by striking a deal to buy Israel-based Radvision Ltd. for about US$230 million.
In a news release this morning Avaya said the acquisition will provide customers an integrated and interoperable suite of easy to use, high-definition video collaboration products, with the ability to plug and play multiple mobile devices such as Apple’s iPad and Google Android tablets.
Upon closing, Radvision’s enterprise video infrastructure and endpoints will be integrated with Avaya’s Aura unified communications platform. The result will be a lineup that will accelerate the adoption of video collaboration, say the companies.
“Radvision has a lot of great open modular technology that will fit in with Avaya’s unified communications collaboration suite,” said Forrester Research analyst Henry Dewing. “It will allow Avaya to win some deals they haven’t been doing as well in, and open some service provider markets.”
He anticipates Avaya will keep its relationships with competing UC providers such as Polycom, Lifesize and Microsoft in terms of interoperability.
The Radvision portfolio, built around its Scopia video product line, includes a range of videoconferencing products for enterprises, small business and service providers. That includes the three-screen XT Telepresence system which can be controlled from an iPad.
Scopia runs standards-based applications on an open infrastructure, with endpoints for ad-hoc and scheduled videoconferencing.
At the close of the transaction, Radvision and Avaya channel partners will be positioned to deliver complete UC video integration, operational support, and professional services, the companies said.
In the transaction, which has been approved by each company’s boards, Radvision shareholders will receive US$11.85 per share, valuing the transaction at approximately US$230 million. The acquisition is expected to close within approximately 90 days assuming the satisfaction of agreed-upon closing conditions.
“Customers demand a rich, collaborative user experience that is interoperable and easy to use,” Avaya CEO Kevin Kennedy said in a statement. “In addition, we believe this transaction will leverage a highly-skilled, incredibly talented and experienced workforce ready to deliver video to enterprise customers. With this acquisition we will seek to extend videoconferencing to any device, anytime, anywhere, making it as easy as a phone call, seizing the opportunity to deliver a fully-integrated solution and architecture that we believe sets us apart from the competition.”
