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Phone.com, Inc., a leading provider of mobile Internet software and services, Tuesday announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Paragon Software Ltd for approximately $500 million in stock. Headquartered in Newbury, United Kingdom, Paragon Software is a pioneer of synchronization technology allowing PC-based personal information to be easily transferred to mobile devices. Paragon Software's product, FoneSync, enables users of PC and Internet-based personal organizers such as Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, Excite@Home, and Yahoo to download and synchronize contact information to over 240 digital mobile phones from 20 major manufacturers including Alcatel, Ericsson, Nokia, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, and Sony.

"We have licensed our market-leading UP.Link Server Suite to over 50 wireless network operators worldwide," said Alain Rossmann, chairman and chief executive officer of Phone.com. "With the acquisition of Paragon Software Ltd we add significant new value to our Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) platform by leveraging the power of data synchronization. Mobile phone users are demanding touch-of-a-button information management between the mobile phone, PC applications, and Internet information services whether or not they are on-line. The combination of Paragon Software and Phone.com will rapidly drive this technology to market."

"FoneSync is firmly established as the leader in PC to mobile phone synchronization. We have marketing agreements in place with numerous partners including Nokia, Ericsson, AT&T Wireless, Microsoft, and Lotus," said Colin Calder, chief executive officer of Paragon Software Ltd. "Extending our technology to WAP-based over-the-air synchronization will revolutionize the way people use their phones. The synergy with Phone.com's marketing, sales channels and development organization makes this a powerful combination."

This acquisition is in line with Phone.com's strategy to create the leading platform for the delivery of Internet services and personal information to mobile phones. "Paragon's success with FoneSync demonstrates the tremendous value that synchronization brings to users of mobile phones," said Alan Black, chief financial officer of Phone.com. "We will further differentiate our platform by integrating this technology into our UP.Link Server Suite and UP.Browser, adding a service which drives usage and increases customer loyalty."

# posted by Medical Information : 4:06 AM