An overview of the week in deals in the Irish and global technology sector.
Twitter acquires microblogging platform Posterous
Microblogging site Twitter has snapped up microblogging start-up and Tumblr competitor Posterous for an undisclosed sum.
An overview of the week in deals in the Irish and global technology sector.
Posterous’ engineers, product managers and others will join Twitter teams working on several key initiatives, Twitter said.
“This team has built an innovative product that makes sharing across the web and mobile devices simple – a goal we share,” Twitter wrote of Posterous in a blog post.
The blogging platform Posterous Spaces will remain up and running without disruption, both Twitter and Posterous said, adding that they’ll give users ample notice if they make any changes to the service.
Dell to acquire internet security solutions provider SonicWALL
Computer maker Dell has signed a definitive agreement to acquire internet security solutions provider SonicWALL, Inc, for an undisclosed sum.
SonicWALL’s Next-Generation Firewalls and Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewalls complement Dell’s security solutions portfolio, enabling it to offer customers a broader range of enterprise offerings, Dell said.
SonicWALL will expand Dell’s security portfolio, which includes cloud security solutions, data encryption solutions, and vulnerability and patch management.
SonicWALL also has a channel programme that includes 15,000 resellers providing global coverage. Dell plans to take the best of the SonicWALL channel programmes and combine them with Dell’s PartnerDirect programme to bring the best to channel members. Likewise, Dell’s existing PartnerDirect members will be able to sell SonicWALL solutions to meet their customers’ IT security needs.
SonicWALL, founded in 1991, is headquartered in San José, California, and serves customers in 50 countries worldwide. The company employs about 950 people who will join the Dell team under the deal.
Cisco to acquire News Corp technology arm NDS for US$5bn
Cisco has announced its intent to acquire NDS Group in a deal worth US$5bn. The move will see Cisco expand its software used in next-generation video services.
NDS is jointly owned by News Corp and private equity firm Permira. Headquartered in Staines in the UK, it is a provider of end-to-end software solutions for the pay television industry.
NDS targets service providers and media companies to help them deliver and monetise new video entertainment experiences.
Cisco said in a statement the acquisition of NDS will “complement and accelerate” the delivery of its platform Videoscape, and will also broaden its opportunities in the service provider market.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco said it would pay around US$5bn, including the assumption of debt and retention-based incentives, to acquire all of the business and operations of NDS.
China’s biggest video sites Youku and Tudou to merge
The two biggest video sites in China, Youku and Tudou, have agreed to merge their businesses into one company with an estimated value of US$1bn.
Paid Content reports that Youku will buy all of Tudou’s stock in the deal. They plan to combine into one company called Youku Tudou Inc, though Tudou will retain its own brand. This will allow it to share content and advertisers. The merger, if approved, is expected close in the third quarter of 2012.
Youku and Tudou are China’s two biggest video websites, both owning 35.5pc of China’s online video revenues.
They work similarly to YouTube, which is blocked in the country.
S3 wins major deal with Europe’s largest chronic disease service
An Irish technology company better known for its silicon design and TV and telecoms technologies has won a major contract to provide telehealth design and consultancy services on Europe’s largest chronic disease programme.
S3 Group has been selected by Telbios, which provides technical services to Buongiorno CReg – Europe’s largest chronic disease service – to enable the launch of its services in four health trust areas of Milano, Como, Bergamo and Milano-2.
Services will range from care co-ordination services and patient education to teleconsultation and telehealth.
Energia strikes €360k deal to power Carphone Warehouse
Electricity retailer Energia will be powering up 82 of Carphone Warehouse’s shops around Ireland with 1.5 GigaWatt hours over the next 18 months in a deal valued at about €360,000.
The mobile phone retailer has recently made a significant investment in its new connected world format stores in Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Leitrim; Crescent Shopping Centre Limerick; and Henry Street, Dublin, with plans for more stores.
Carphone Warehouse also opened new stores in Castlebar, Co Mayo, and Portlaoise, Co Laois, before Christmas, with the creation of 15 jobs.
Irish energy firms ink energy savings deal with SEAI
Nine energy firms operating in Ireland have signed Voluntary Agreements with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to deliver energy savings to consumers, Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, has announced.
The companies include Calor, Electric Ireland (formerly ESB), Airtricity, Bord Gais, Arigna Fuels, Bord na Móna Fuels, Energia, Stafford Fuels and Vayu.
Rabbitte said he has approved the finalisation of Voluntary Agreements between the SEAI and the aforementioned energy suppliers, which have agreed to meet energy savings targets.
More than 200,000 homes have been upgraded with energy-efficiency measures to date via the SEAI’s Better Energy: Homes and Better Energy: Warmer Homes programmes. Energy suppliers will now also be offering energy-efficiency upgrades to their customers.
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