Sybase acquires professional software services.

Sybase, Inc. have announced that it has acquired certain assets from Singapore-based iFoundry Systems, a privately held engineering services company focused on designing, developing and building wireless mobility solutions, in an all-cash transaction. The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on 2006 consolidated results.

The assets acquired include the business of licensing short-range wireless interconnect protocol stacks and providing software consulting, training and professional engineering services to mobile device OEMs, ODMs and chipset manufacturers to enable these technologies on their respective platforms. These assets enable Sybase to offer a more complete embedded software solution to these customers. Sybase's software development kits (SDKs) allow manufacturers to quickly implement and embed wireless technology, such as Bluetooth and infrared (IrDA), into devices including cellular handsets, mobile devices and automotive applications. With its acquisition of Extended Systems, Inc. (ESI) in 2005, Sybase emerged as one of the leading providers of Bluetooth and IrDA technology. Its mobile device solutions have already been incorporated into more than 400 distinct mobile device designs by major global device manufacturers--representing millions of Sybase-enabled devices in the market. "This acquisition expands our presence in Asia, where the majority of embedded software design and purchasing decisions are being made," said Terry Stepien, president iAnywhere, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. "As the Bluetooth market matures, our embedded software customers have been asking us to complement their software licenses with professional engineering services to help them accelerate their time to market. The acquisition of iFoundry Systems' professional engineering services team brings this capability to Sybase, along with strong existing customer relationships with established mobile device OEM, ODM and chipset manufacturers."

The embedded mobile software business is strong; revenue for the worldwide market for Bluetooth-enabled cell phones is expected to increase by 70 percent between 2006 and 2011 as unit volumes double from 2006 to 2008 and increase to more than a billion units in 2011, according to IMS Research. "Sybase and iFoundry Systems already have a strong partnership with a long history of working together," said Haft Ramichandran, Sybase director of sales in Singapore and former managing director, iFoundry Systems. "iFoundry Systems has been a distributor of Sybase iAnywhere mobile device solutions since 2002. Both companies understand the complex requirements of the embedded software market and the value of professional engineering services. We are pleased that this transaction helps Sybase extend its mobility leadership and better serve its global customers." Sybase also gains valuable embedded software intellectual property that has been developed by iFoundry Systems but not yet productized. It is expected that this intellectual property will augment the portfolio of Sybase iAnywhere mobile device solutions to provide additional integrated technologies to cellular phone OEM and ODM customers.

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