VeriSign agreed to acquire LightSurf, a provider of multimedia messaging and interoperability solutions for the wireless market, for $270 million in VeriSign stock.
LightSurf, which is based in Santa Cruz, California, supplies open standards MMS, picture and video messaging software that is currently with partners including Bell Canada, Eastman Kodak, Iusacell, LG International Corp., mmO2 plc, Motorola, Rogers Wireless, Samsung Electronics, Sanyo, Sprint, Telecom New Zealand and Toshiba.
VeriSign said that by adding LightSurf’s capabilities into its existing communication services platforms, it will be able to offer carriers a comprehensive wireless data utility that covers all aspects of the mobile content value chain. Functionality will include picture messaging, multimedia messaging services, and Inter-carrier messaging and interoperability.
http://www.lightsurf.com
- LightSurf was founded in 1998 by Philippe Kahn, who founded Borland in 1982 and was CEO of the company for 12 years. In 1994 Philippe co-founded Starfish Software, which was acquired by Motorola in 1998.