Cisco beefs up OSS portfolio with $31M AXIOSS acquisition

Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) may be finding a way to turn its financial and operations ship around, but its proposal to purchase Comptel's AXIOSS software shows that its operations and support systems (OSS) business could be another potential revenue generator for the routing giant.

Expected to close by Q3 2011 after meeting standard closing conditions, Cisco will purchase AXIOSS for about $31 million in cash.

By acquiring the AXIOSS assets, Cisco will be able to extend network and service management technologies across its flagship platforms, including the CRS-3 core router, to deliver a host of video, data and cloud services to consumer and business customers.

One of the key pieces that Cisco will get from AXIOSS will be its software suite will be its fulfillment platform that it says will bolster its service provider management product with automated ordering and fulfillment features. Specifically, the software will provide management capabilities across its five priority areas-including core, collaboration, data center virtualization and cloud, video, and business transformation-in addition to Cisco Prime product set.

Cisco is wasting no time integrating the AXIOSS software into its fold. Already, the vendor has integrated the AXIOSS software suite into its managed services solutions, while the Cisco Advanced Services OSS practice will offer associated implementation, customization and integration services for the Cisco Prime fulfillment platform from the acquisition.

From a staffing point of view, the existing AXIOSS team, including Gareth Senior, Comptel's CTO, will be integrated into CiscoNMTG and Cisco Advanced Services Group.

For more:
- see the release

Special Report: Wireline in the second quarter 2011

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