The assets include IFoundry’s short-range wireless interconnect protocol business and OEM software consulting, training and professional engineering services for mobile device manufacturers.
IFoundry is privately-held and specializes in developing wireless mobility applications. The company has two main lines of business: wireless products such as Bluetooth hardware and embedded technologies for mobile device manufacturers.
The company had maintained a close partnership with Sybase prior to the acquisition, acting as a distributor of Sybase’s iAnywhere mobile systems since 2002.
IFoundry’s technology will bolster Sybase’s presence in Asia, allowing the company to provide more complete embedded software offerings for regional mobile device and chipset makers.
The majority of embedded software design and purchasing decisions [for mobile device and chips] are being made in Asia, Sybase said.
Sybase also said that IFoundry has been working on non-productized embedded software that will complement its iAnywhere portfolio by adding more integrated capabilities for cellular phone OEM customers.
The acquisition builds on Sybase’s purchase of Nasdaq-listed Extended Systems Inc last year which beefed up its Bluetooth and infrared technology offerings that are now embedded into 400 or so mobile devices.
IFoundry was once part of Extended Systems (when it was acquired in 1997 as Parallax Research, then a specialist provider of Infared technology). The company was then spun out as an independent firm following a management buyout in December 2002.
Sybase, which is headquartered in Dublin, California, said the deal won’t impact its fiscal 2006 results.
