Motorola Inc. on Tuesday announced plans to buy Winphoria Networks Inc., a company that makes packet-based switching centers for wireless networks.
Motorola plans to integrate Winphoria into its Global Telecom Solutions Sector (GTSS) business unit, according to Motorola officials in Schaumburg, Ill. They did not disclose financial terms of the deal except to say that it will be in cash, and will close in the second quarter as long as there are no regulatory problems.
Winphoria, of Tewksbury, Mass., makes soft switches, which are generally less expensive than their circuit-based hardware counterparts. Motorola began reselling Winphoria products last summer, and officials said that they are a necessary part of Motorolas portfolio.
“In acquiring Winphoria, we will augment our strategic position by adding an innovative core telecom switching capability to our portfolio and by providing a competitive media gateway solution,” said Christopher Galvin, chairman and CEO of Motorola, in a statement. “These translate into direct benefits for our carrier customers and prospects by helping them reduce operating costs, and by offering them a software-driven switch that can be easily upgraded and enhanced at lower cost.”
Winphoria also is known for its Global Instant Rendezvous (GIR) push-to-talk technology, which allows for direct connections to a pre-defined group of subscribers.
Nextel Communications Inc. is the leader in push-to-talk services, but several of Motorolas carrier customers have voiced interest in offering something similar.
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