Ericsson extends television and media leadership via acquisition of Azuki Systems
* Ericsson extends leadership position with acquisition of industry-leading
technology portfolio in adaptive bitrate (ABR) and content protection
* Complements Microsoft Mediaroom acquisition, further supporting TV Anywhere
services with a comprehensive set of technologies
* Accelerates Ericsson's offering of TV Anywhere services through addition of
key technology
Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) today announced it has entered into an agreement to
acquire Massachusetts-based Azuki Systems, Inc., a provider of TV Anywhere
delivery platforms for service providers, content owners and broadcasters.
Azuki Systems extends Ericsson's leading TV and media portfolio which includes
the recent addition of Mediaroom from Microsoft. Through the acquisition,
Ericsson will accelerate the availability of new and compelling viewing
experiences across a variety of devices and screens. In addition, Ericsson will
gain additional key functionality related to the deployment of TV Anywhere
services, including adaptive bit rate and content protection technologies. In
addition, the acquisition brings a team of highly skilled software engineers
from Azuki Systems.
Per Borgklint, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Support Solutions
at Ericsson said, "We are executing on our TV&Media strategy and Azuki adds key
technologies and capabilities to extend our market leadership position.
Traditional TV is shifting rapidly towards TV Anywhere. Azuki Systems further
positions Ericsson to help customers deliver on the Networked Society's global
demand for customized and personalized media experiences that include content on
any screen, any time across any network."
Cheng Wu, CEO and co-founder of Azuki Systems, said: "Service providers, content
owners and broadcasters face a range of challenges as they race to make content
available on any device. Through worldwide deployments of our proven next
generation video delivery solution, we have helped accelerate deployment and
monetization of TV Anywhere services. Continuing this work as part of Ericsson
will ensure that customers globally will have the most advanced support as they
aim to deliver the best services for their subscribers."
Azuki Systems was founded in 2008 and is based in Acton, MA. Its next-generation
TV Anywhere solution combines the power of over-the-top video with the highest
quality of user experience, personalization, content protection, scalability and
reliability. It also enables multiple monetization options, beyond portals and
authentication services. Its customers are cable operators, IPTV providers,
mobile network operators and content owners. The company has 49 employees.
The acquisition is expected to close before the end of February, 2014, subject
to customary closing conditions. Â Azuki Systems will be incorporated into
Business Unit Support Solutions.
NOTES TO EDITORS
To learn more about Ericsson's Television and media management capabilities,
visit: http://www.ericsson.com/us/ourportfolio/telecom-operators/television-and-
media-management.
Download high-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video at
www.ericsson.com/press
Ericsson is a world-leading provider of communications technology and services.
We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that
allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable
societies around the world.
Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information
and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today
40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we
support customers' networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscriptions.
We are more than 110,000 people working with customers in more than 180
countries. Founded in 1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In
2012 the company's net sales were SEK 227.8 billion (USD 33.8 billion). Ericsson
is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
Ericsson Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10Â 719 00 00
E-mail: investor.relations@ericsson.com
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