Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has added another element to its growing OSS/BSS empire by reaching a deal to acquire Boston-based MetraTech, a move that will extend its presence beyond the telecom industry into other emerging markets, including transport and utilities.
Under the terms of the acquisition, all of MetraTech's 140 employees and contractors with expertise in software will join Ericsson.
Ericsson said the acquisition will build on its expertise in billing and expand its geographic presence in the U.S.
In particular, the acquisition will help Ericsson address new opportunities driven by the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) and everything as a service (XaaS) business models.
By bringing the MetraTech capabilities into its fold, Ericsson will be able to enable its growing base of OSS/BSS customers to create what it says will be "fluid, personalized, multi-party agreements to meet unique business needs."
Ericsson expects the acquisition to close before the end of the third quarter of 2014 after meeting customary closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
MetraTech is just one of many acquisitions that Ericsson had made in recent years to bolster its OSS/BSS portfolio. Besides its groundbreaking deal to acquire Telcordia for $1.2 billion in 2011, the vendor has acquired other smaller companies, including Telocell and TeleOSS Consulting, which gave the company additional systems integration capabilities for OSS in South East Asia and Oceania.
For more:
- see the release
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