Oracle Corp. today announced it has entered into a $1.7 billion agreement to acquire Acme Packet, a Bedford, Mass-based provider of Internet Protocol (IP) network controllers.
RELATED CONTENT
Oracle buys Instantis
Here’s to the IP network
As so-called rich calls that combine voice and data become increasingly popular, telcos and other organizations are moving towards the all-IP network system which merges all services into a single network. The technology dramatically reduces the cost of supplying a service and introducing new services. All-IP implementations can provide benefits for various industries including e-commerce, healthcare and finance.
“The addition of Acme Packet to Oracle’s leading communications portfolio will enable service providers and enterprises to deliver innovative solutions that will change the way we interact, conduct commerce, deliver healthcare, secure our homes and much more,” said Mark Hurd, Oracle president.
This area is set to explode within the next few years and Oracle was smart to pick up a notable player in the field whose value still has room for growth, according to the analyst who specializes in unified communications, cloud computing and network infrastructure.
Founded in 2000, Acme specializes in developing and distributing session border controllers, multi-service security gateways and session routing proxies. The publicly traded company employs more than 760 workers in 31 countries.
Acme’s products are deployed by more than 1,900 service providers and large enterprise companies around the world including 89 of the world’s top 100 communications companies.
Oracle is offering $29.25 per share for the company. The Acme board of directors has unanimously approved the offer and the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2013 subject to Acme stockholders’ approval.
