Oracle buys Acme Packet for 'session border control'

Oracle pays $2.1bn for IP hardware company Acme

Computer giant Oracle has splashed out some $2.1bn (£1.34bn) to acquire Acme Packet, a provider of session border control technology. Excluding cash, the deal can be valued at about $1.7bn. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of Acme, and is subject to shareholder approval.

The Bedford, Massachusetts-based company's hardware is intended to provide secure IP transport for unified communications, including voice, video and data.

According to Acme its products and services help "overcome the limitations inherent in using the internet... for session-based voice, video, data and unified communications, more-and-more service providers and enterprises are turning to session delivery networks, which layer complementary intelligence and controls over an IP transport network."

It adds: "With the IP transport network providing basic packet routing and delivery services, the overlay session delivery network provides critical session border control and session management functions that ensure prioritized, secure and trusted delivery of a broad range of services and applications."

Customers include fixed line, cable, mobile, transit and "over-the-top" communication service providers, as well as enterprises, contact centres and government organisations. The company was founded in 2000 and based in Bedford, Massachusetts, with offices in Spain, Germany, Japan, Korea, and the UK.