WebMessenger sold.L.A.-based WebMessenger Inc., a 14-year-old software development company with a hot mobile messaging platform, has been sold for $7 million to Herndon, Va.-based Apptix, a producer of on-demand communication tools for small and medium-size businesses. WebMessenger develops software that bridges a suite of Mobile Instant Messaging Mobile Instant Messaging abbreviated as MIM is a presence enabled messaging service that aims to transpose the Internet desktop messaging such as ICQ or MSN experience to the usage scenario of being connected via a mobile/cellular device. products across desktop and mobile devices. Users can communicate across public and private networks, including AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. , MSN (1) (MicroSoft Network) A family of Internet-based services from Microsoft, which includes a search engine, e-mail (Hotmail), instant messaging (Windows Live Messaging) and a general-purpose portal with news, information and shopping (MSN Directory). , Yahoo, ICQ ("I Seek You") A conferencing program for the Internet from Mirabilis, Tel Aviv, Israel (www.icq.com). It provides interactive chat, e-mail and file transfer and can alert you when someone on your predefined list has also come online. , Google Talk, and Skype, on most communications gadgets, such as desktops, cell phones, BlackBerries, and Palm Treo. With an impressive client list, including IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Lehman Brothers, MetLife, Verizon and Sprint, why was WebMessenger sold for a relatively small sum? "They were looking for an exit strategy and we offered a fair price for the company," said Jackie Funk, director of marketing at Apptix. "I just saw the WebMessenger CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and he's all smiles. The company had changed its business model from consulting to a true software and service provider and I think they wanted to take advantage of our strengths in sales and marketing." WebMessenger's chief executive, Val Babajov, founded the company from his garage in his Los Angeles home and launched a subsidiary in Bulgaria. Of the company's 46 employees, only eight are based in L.A. with the rest in Bulgaria. All were hired by Apptix, which makes the $20.7 million public company 265-employees strong. Staff reporter Booyeon Lee Can be reached at blee@labusinessjournal.com or (323) 549-5225, ext. 230. |
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