Metaswitch buys Colibria as RCS assumes center stage with operators

VoIP tech company Metaswitch Networks has acquired Norwegian instant messaging and presence systems provider Colibria, in a deal that will complement Metaswitch's recently launched Thrutu service, and help it expand its social interaction and contextual calling services. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Colibria's all-IP, standards-based portfolio is being deployed by operators worldwide to deliver advanced messaging and content sharing capabilities, designed to meet the communication needs of a wide range of consumer and business users. The addition of Colibria's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Rich Communication Suite (RCS and RCS-e) compliant portfolio also broadens the range of options that Metaswitch can now present to operators looking for short-, mid- and long-term answers to the dual challenges of countering competitive threats and keeping the voice call relevant.

Metaswitch a year ago bought service broker vendor AppTrigger, which specializes in a type of media gateway that allows software written for one type of network to run on a different network.

"Operators around the world have quickly come to realize that it is time to turn up the heat on their over-the-top competitors," said Metaswitch CEO Kevin DeNuccio. "The way people communicate is quickly evolving from just voice and text to a new, richer set of social interaction and contextual calling services. Metaswitch is in the middle of this transformation, helping service providers address these demands and putting their brand front and center in the new communications experience. Colibria technology will play a key role in making this happen."

RCS, said Diane Myers, directing analyst for VoIP & IMS for Infonetics Research, is a strategic move by service providers, one that is attractive to customers and could draw nearly 44 million subscribers by 2015.

"We've tracked both Metaswitch and Colibria for a while and see the combination as a potent force in SIP-oriented converged applications for wireline and wireless operators," Myers said.

Metaswitch will continue to invest in and support Colibria's brand, products and strategic industry partnerships. Colibria CEO Lars Myhrum will assume the General Manager role for Metaswitch's presence in Norway, with responsibility for the ongoing development and evolution of the Colibria product line.

For more:
- see this release
- see this Light Reading article

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