Microsoft acquires Net-calling start-up

by admin November 3, 2005 at 10:08 am

Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it has acquired a small company that specializes in voice communication over the Web, the second acquisition it’s made in that market in recent months.

The purchase of Media-streams.com, a 23-employee firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, gives Microsoft a set of business applications that tap voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. VoIP services let people place phone calls over the Internet, usually at a discount to traditional phone services.

The deal, the financial terms of which were not disclosed, follows Microsoft’s acquisition of Internet calling start-up Teleo in August. While Teleo’s technology is aimed at consumers and has been incorporated into MSN, Media-streams’ applications are designed for businesses. Microsoft plans to link the software to its corporate instant message system and Office productivity applications.

Full article: ZDNet News