Cisco opens wallet again for $141 million Cariden acquisition

Cisco has announced yet another acquisition, with the intent to buy networking software firm Cariden Technologies for $141 million.

Californian firm Cariden specialises in providing networking planning and management software tools to telecommunications service providers, and has deals in place with major fixed and mobile operators.  Cariden will now be brought into Cisco’s Service Provider Networking Group to advance its IP networking technology.

“The Cariden acquisition reinforces Cisco’s commitment to offering service providers the technologies they need to optimise and monetise their networks, and ultimately grow their businesses,” said Surya Panditi, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco’s Service Provider Networking Group.

“Given the widespread convergence of IP and optical networks, Cariden’s technology will help carriers more efficiently manage bandwidth, network traffic and intelligence.”

Panditi added: “This acquisition signals the next phase in Cisco’s packet and optical convergence strategy and further strengthens our ability to lead this market transition in networking.”

Cisco has been acquiring firms at pace this year as it attempts to shake up its business.  Following some more ill-advised acquisitions which resulted in the release of the Flip for example, the view of Cisco is that it is on a better track, despite continued struggles with EMEA sales.  One service provider Cisco partner recently told ChannelBiz UK that it believed the networking firm had been doing a good job of updating its traditional network offerings following the addition of new technology from acquired firms.

Cisco has already acquired cloud networking provider Meraki in a $1.2 billion deal, as well as a string of purchases throughout the year as it attempts to position itself as one of the major IT vendors.  In fact Cariden represents Cisco’s third acquisition of the month, following a year of opening its wallet.

The company announced earlier this week that it is to bring together its cloud and managed services provider partner programmes under one banner.