Avocent buys Canadian software firm

Sonic Mobility customers include Lockheed, FedEx and State Department

Thursday, September 02, 2004

From staff reports

Huntsville Times

Huntsville-based Avocent Corp. said Wednesday it has purchased Sonic Mobility Inc., a privately held company based in Calgary, Canada.

Terms of the agreement call for Avocent to pay $8 million in cash and assume some of the transaction costs and Sonic's liabilities.

Sonic makes software for mobile devices used to perform many routine server administrative functions, such as managing data, rebooting systems and viewing event logs. The company has business liaisons with Palm, Microsoft and other firms. Customers include Lockheed Martin, FedEx and the U.S. State Department.

"We have already begun to integrate Sonic Mobility's mobile device solutions into future Avocent products," said John Cooper, Avocent's president and chief executive.

Derek Ball, Sonic's CEO, will become Avocent's director of business development for mobile solutions. He will be joined by Dayton Foster, Sonic's vice president of engineering, and the software development team.

Avocent makes products that allow a remote computer user to control the keyboard, video and mouse functions of computers at other locations. Earlier this year, the company bought OSA Technologies, a California-based software firm. Avocent shares, traded on Nasdaq under the symbol AVCT, closed Wednesday at $29.05, up 54 cents.




Avocent buys Canadian software firm Sonic Mobility customers include Lockheed, FedEx and State Department Thursday, September 02, 2004 From staff reports Huntsville Times Huntsville-based Avocent Corp. said Wednesday it has purchased Sonic Mobility Inc., a privately held company based in Calgary, Canada. Terms of the agreement call for Avocent to pay $8 million in cash and assume some of the transaction costs and Sonic's liabilities. Sonic makes software for mobile devices used to perform many routine server administrative functions, such as managing data, rebooting systems and viewing event logs. The company has business liaisons with Palm, Microsoft and other firms. Customers include Lockheed Martin, FedEx and the U.S. State Department. "We have already begun to integrate Sonic Mobility's mobile device solutions into future Avocent products," said John Cooper, Avocent's president and chief executive. Derek Ball, Sonic's CEO, will become Avocent's director of business development for mobile solutions. He will be joined by Dayton Foster, Sonic's vice president of engineering, and the software development team. Avocent makes products that allow a remote computer user to control the keyboard, video and mouse functions of computers at other locations. Earlier this year, the company bought OSA Technologies, a California-based software firm. Avocent shares, traded on Nasdaq under the symbol AVCT, closed Wednesday at $29.05, up 54 cents. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.