Vocaltec Communications Ltd, the Herzliya, Israel-based voice over IP firm, has agreed to acquire most of the assets and liabilities of Tel Aviv-based Radlinx Ltd, for between $7.5m and $9m depending on whether it pays cash, VocalTec ordinary shares, or a combination of the two. In 1996, Radlinx launched its PASSaFAX technology (CI No 2,843), enabling users to send facsimile messages via the internet or their private IP network. It worked over an Ethernet local network, converting facsimile information to IP and sending it over the network, using Group 3 protocols. Radlinx also developed real time online fax and email to fax products for IP. VocalTec called fax one of the must-have applications of an IP communications network, alongside voice data and video. Routing fax calls over the internet can lead to substantial cost savings it said.
