Motorola Computer Group acquired NetPlane Systems, a developer of networking protocol software, for an undisclosed amount of cash. NetPlane Systems (formerly Harris & Jeffries) was a division of Mindspeed Technologies, the Internet infrastructure business of Conexant Systems. NetPlane develops networking protocol software for the control plane, while Motorola Computer Group provides OEMs with intelligent hardware and software building blocks for next-generation networks and embedded computing applications. Motorola Computer Group plans to expand NetPlane's source code business and support its customer base of nearly 300 OEMs worldwide. The companies also noted that their complementary technologies could also serve markets outside the telecom industry. For example, NetPlane's control plane protocols can be integrated on CompactPCI or VMEbus boards or Processor PMC modules supplied by Motorola for applications in the industrial automation and defense industries. NetPlane Systems has 62 employees in Westborough, Massachusetts and Hyderabad, India.
http://www.netplane.com
http://www.motorola.com/computer
- NetPlane is a supplier of IP, MPLS, ATM, Frame Relay and SS7 source code solutions to network equipment manufacturers. Prior to May 2000, the company was known as Harris & Jeffries. (H&J).
Conexant Systems acquired privately held NetPlane Systems in October 2000 in a deal valued at approximately $140 million at the time (2.7 million CNXT shares).
In July 2002, Mindspeed announced plans to reduce its investments in high-end optical networking applications while emphasizing multiservice voice over packet, T/E carrier, and ATM/MPLS network processor solutions. The cost cutting measures included a major workforce reduction (400 jobs or 35% of staff), the elimination of R&D investments in OC-192 packet processing and next-generation SONET solutions, closure of its Novanet OC-192 SONET design center in Israel, and divestiture of its NetPlane subsidiary.
