Cisco announced its decision to acquire small rival Jasper Technologies for $1.4 billion in cash to enhance its Internet of Things (IoT) business.
The privately held Jasper Technologies — based in Santa Clara — offers cloud-based IoT service platform to help enterprises and service providers launch, manage and monetize IoT services.
Jasper is the leading IoT service platform in terms of number of enterprises and service providers, according to Cisco. More than 2,000 companies in over 20 industry verticals selected Jasper for IoT services. Jasper partners with 26 mobile operator groups, representing more than 100 mobile operator networks.
Jasper Technologies allows companies to connect any device — from cars to jet engines to implanted pacemakers — over the cellular networks of the top service providers, and then manage connectivity of IoT services through Jasper’s Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.
Jasper develops and provides a SaaS platform with a predictable, recurring revenue IoT business that manages and drives a wide range of connected devices and services for more than 3500 enterprises worldwide, working with 27 service provider groups globally.
The acquisition will allow the US-based Cisco to offer a complete IoT solution that is interoperable across devices and works with IoT service providers, application developers and an ecosystem of partners.
Cisco will continue to build upon the Jasper IoT service platform and add new IoT services such as enterprise Wi-Fi, security for connected devices, and advanced analytics to better manage device usage.
Chuck Robbins, chief executive officer at Cisco, said: “Together, we can enable service providers, enterprises and the broader ecosystem to connect, automate, manage, and analyze billions of connected things, across any network, creating new revenue streams and opportunities.”
Jahangir Mohammed, CEO and founder of Jasper Technologies, will run the new IoT Software Business Unit under Rowan Trollope, Cisco senior vice president and general manager, IoT and Collaboration Technology Group.
Reliance Communications has recently selected Jasper to enable enterprises throughout India to launch, manage and monetize Next-Generation IoT businesses. Reliance is Jasper’s sole telecom partner in India.
Reliance Group companies will be the anchor clients for the IoT rollout in India. Discussions are also underway with multiple clients and state governments across India for the deployment of this platform. A dedicated technical team from Reliance and Jasper will manage the phased roll-out of IoT services across the country.