VeriSign Plans to Buy MMS Leader LightSurf

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Eager to get into the mobile market, VeriSign Inc. said Monday it agreed to purchase LightSurf Technologies for $270 million.

LightSurf is credited with developing software and services that allow customers of North American cellphone carriers to email and electronically modify images so they can be properly displayed on various kinds of handsets and other computers.

VeriSign recently branched out from securing web commerce transactions to a range of other communications services. It operates a huge signaling network, which helps phone carriers manage transactions such as wireless text messages and cellular roaming, as well as the systems needed to help call up web pages based on “.com” and “.net” addresses.

The Mountain View, Calif., company said, in a statement, it expects the all-stock acquisition for the seven-year-old company to generate at least $30 million in incremental revenues for the remaining period of 2005.

LightSurf is the led by entrepreneur Philippe Kahn, who sold his StarFish Software to Motorola Inc. in 1998 for $253 million. But the 52-year-old is best known for founding what is now Borland Software Corp.

Kahn is expected to stay on with the company after the deal is finalized.

LightSurf has 250 employees, about half at its headquarters in Santa Cruz, Calif., and the remainder in Bangalore, India.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Braindance Unveils '6DOF' VR Tech

Interactive virtual reality platform Braindance has debuted its new Six Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) VR technology.

Kiiroo, Pineapple Support Launch 'Empower Hour' Series on FeelHubX YouTube Channel

Kiiroo and Pineapple Support have teamed up to launch the “Empower Hour” series on the FeelHubX YouTube channel.

Kansas Law Firm Deploys Religion, Bunk Science While Recruiting Plaintiffs Under AV Law

Kansas-based personal injury law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley is promoting debunked scientific theories and leveraging religious affiliation against the industry while it seeks potential plaintiffs for lawsuits against adult companies under the state’s age verification law.

UK Tech Secretary Lists Age Verification Among OSA Priorities

Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on Wednesday made public a draft version of his priorities for implementing the Online Safety Act (OSA), including age verification.

AEBN Publishes Popular Seraches by Country for September, October

AEBN has released its list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Avery Jane Featured on 'Adult Time Podcast'

Avery Jane is the latest guest on the “Adult Time Podcast,” hosted by studio CCO Bree Mills.

FSC: Kansas Law Firm Threatens Adult Site Over Age Verification

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has been notified that Kansas law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley has sent a letter threatening an adult website with a lawsuit for breaking the state's age verification law.

10th Circuit Rejects Final FSC Appeal in Utah AV Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit on Monday rejected a motion by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) requesting that the full court rehear its appeal in Free Speech Coalition v. Anderson, the industry trade association’s challenge to Utah’s age verification law.

Trump Nominates Project 2025 Contributor, Section 230 Foe to Chair FCC

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated, as his pick to head the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr — an author of Project 2025 who has called for gutting Section 230 protections.

Streamate's Elevate Partners With Miss Mei on Decriminalization Initiative

Streamate’s Elevate initiative is debuting a November collaboration with creator and community advocate Miss Mei that will highlight the modern criminalization of sex work.

Show More