Unified Communications firm Avaya has announced a deal to acquire video conferencing firm Radvision for around $230m.
Avaya said the acquisition of the Israel-based firm will help it push its technology to mobile users, reflecting the recent proliferation of iPhones, iPads and Google Android devices in the enterprise.
Avaya says the integrated technology will enable it to offer customers plug and play UC and a full suite of high definition video conferencing capabilities. Radvision’s video conferencing and telepresence technologies work over IP and wireless networks.
"The opportunity for personal workspace is now. Customers demand a rich, collaborative user experience that is interoperable and easy to use," said Kevin Kennedy, president and CEO, Avaya.
"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," he added.
Radvision had been struggling for a number of years now, since its biggest customer, Cisco Systems, acquired rival video conferencing tech firm Tandberg. Previously Cisco had been providing about one-third of Radvision’s revenue, according to reports.
Radvision’s latest financial figures showed a dip in quarterly revenue, from $26.6m a year ago to $21.8m this time.
In June of last year Avaya announced that it had a filed for a $1bn initial public offering (IPO). In 2010 it acquired Nortel Enterprise Solutions for $900m.
