Cisco has bought an enterprise instant messaging (IM) specialist, Jabber, for an undisclosed amount in a bid to expand its software business. Based in Denver, Jabber develops an open IM platform that can integrate third-party apps, such as Microsoft Office, IBM Sametime, AOL’s AIM, Google Talk and Yahoo! Messenger. The platform will become part of Cisco’s Collaboration portfolio.
The acquisition is part of Cisco’s “build, buy and partner” strategy, which has seen the firm buy WebEx, IronPort, Securent and PostPath in the past months. “Enterprise organizations want an extensible presence and messaging platform that can integrate with business process applications and easily adapt to their changing needs,” says Doug Dennerline, SVP of Cisco’s Collaboration Software Group. Cisco expects to complete the acquisition in the first half of next year.
Following the completion, Jabber employees will join the Collaboration Software Group.