If you thought you were all squared away on Unify, the rebranded Siemens Enterprise Communications that a year ago became one of the first companies to launch one of the real-time, mobile-first collaboration apps that are garnering so much attention these days, then you'd be wrong. The company is once again poised for significant change.
Earlier today news came out of Europe that French digital services firm Atos SE is acquiring Unify from its joint owners The Gores Group and Siemens. Atos's intention, as stated in the press release announcing the deal, is "to create a unique integrated proposition for unified communications and real time capabilities enhancing social collaboration, digital transformation, and business performance of its clients."
Unify declined comment on the news, instead pointing to public corporate statements for the company's position. In his press statement, Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser called Atos "a proven and a trustful partner," that is "the perfect solution for a sustainable future of Unify and its customers."
Atos did not disclose financial details in the release, noting only that it expects to close the acquisition in the first quarter of 2016 (perhaps in time to tell its story at Enterprise Connect, coming March 7 to 10, in Orlando, Fla.). A Reuters report, however, tagged the deal at $373 million.
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