AT&T Acquires Interwise - Leading IP Voice/Video/Web Conferenci

[katy]

may the att will launching the VOIP for us. At least it seems like it . Got the news from teh att.com

AT&T Inc. announced today that it has agreed, through one of its subsidiaries, to acquire privately held Interwise, a leading global provider of voice, Web and video conferencing services to businesses. AT&T will pay approximately $121 million in cash for the company.

The transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, strategically aligns Interwise's innovative IP-based conferencing and collaboration solution with AT&T's enterprise networking, communications and collaboration services, global MPLS-based IP network and its industry-leading conferencing portfolio of services.

Following the acquisition, the company will operate as a business unit within AT&T Global Business Services, which serves the largest enterprises around the world and is led by Group President Ronald E. Spears. AT&T expects to retain Interwise's management team and its domestic and international operations, including its R&D center in Israel.

With the acquisition, AT&T and Interwise will be able to more quickly develop and bring to market capabilities to address the evolving collaboration and communications needs of businesses around the world.

Interwise provides converged, IP-based conferencing solutions for enterprises. Its integrated voice, Web and video conferencing system has been repeatedly recognized by industry analyst firms and publications for its market-leading integration of VoIP- and TDM-based audio and its leadership in meeting the user and IT needs of large, global enterprises. In addition to offering on-premise and fully hosted conferencing, Interwise offers a unique, hybrid solution that allows enterprises to receive the cost and security benefits of on-site software with the rapid startup, geographic reach and capacity protection of its hosted service.

IT research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates that the total conferencing segment (audio, video, and web conferencing included) represents a $5.9 billion segment worldwide in 2007, and expects the segment to continue to experience significant growth. (Source: Frost & Sullivan.)

This strong demand for conferencing reflects the value it delivers to enterprises in helping them foster and enable more collaborative, higher performing workplaces. Interwise customers are taking advantage of its uniquely scalable technology to offer unlimited voice conferences, Web meetings, virtual classes, Web seminars, Webcasts and recordings to tens of thousands of employees at a time, as a corporate standard tool on every desktop. Enabling employees to treat voice, Web and video conferencing like e-mail enables the whole organization to participate in lowering costs, improving agility and making decisions with their colleagues, customers, partners and suppliers anytime, anywhere around the world.

With headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., Interwise today employs approximately 150 people and operates in the United States, Europe and Asia with offices in six countries.