In a move which will expand its range of VoIP, mobile, text and mixed-media communication services, Virtual PBX (News - Alert), a pioneer in hosted PBX services, has acquired Open Communication Systems (OCS), a developer of next-generation personal communication and broadcasting services based on open standards and open source technology.

The acquisition means Virtual PBX now has access to OCS' cross-platform telecommunications environment and expertise, as well as its globally-available suite of group communication, conferencing and mobile broadcasting services, called "Radio Handi." The company reportedly plans to continue to market the "Radio Handi" product line to casual groups, clubs and families.

By integrating OCS' open source technologies into its platform, Virtual PBX will be able to provide a suite of virtual office telecommunications services that can be purchased separately or together. This will help Virtual PBX further penetrate the markets it currently serves, as well as expand into new markets. The company plans to roll out these new hosted services by the fourth quarter of 2007.  

Paul Hammond, CEO of Virtual PBX, said in a press release OCS' platform and team of open source communications experts will help Virtual PBX "further our vision of a unified suite of hosted communication products that will cross new boundaries for our company and the industry."

"Virtual PBX is a pioneer in hosted communication services, with a strong management team, and maintains a large and diverse customer base," said Brian McConnell, founder of Open Communication Systems, in the release. "That they did this as an independent company in a competitive and capital intensive industry is all the more remarkable."

The acquisition, which closed June 15, was funded with a combination of cash and royalties with an estimated value of "several million dollars." According to the press release, Virtual PBX plans to absorb all current OCS employees.

Virtual PBX introduced one of the first hosted PBX platforms in 1997. Its IP telephony solution, which is geared for small businesses, utilizes the public switched telephone network and the Internet to provide PBX functionality as a hosted service.

For more information visit www.virtualpbx.com.

Patrick Barnard is Assignment Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.

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