May/June 2004

Sybase, the enterprise software and database management specialist, has completed the acquisition of mobile applications supplier Xcellenet for a price of $95.2 million. It says the business will now be integrated with its iAnywhere Solutions subsidiary.

The development marks a further step by Sybase into the mobile solutions market. Just over a year ago it acquired AvantGo, which had established an early reputation for its ready-to-run mobile applications portfolio, and claimed 7million registered users. Its system has since been further developed, putting the accent on the consumer end of the business spectrum (its range includes tailored "push" services delivered via the mobile Internet).

With the Xcellenet acquisition come an estimated 2,200 global customers, as well as new and expanded relationships with partners and software vendors such as Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft.