Wednesday, January 22, 2014

(BN) VMware to Buy AirWatch for $1.54 Billion to Add Mobile Tools

Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- VMware Inc., the biggest maker of software that lets computers run different operating systems, agreed to buy AirWatch LLC for as much as $1.54 billion, adding technology to help businesses manage and protect mobile devices.

The surging popularity of smartphones and tablets is forcing businesses to secure a multitude of new devices as employees move away from personal computers. AirWatch competes in the mobile-device management software market with companies such as MobileIron Inc., Citrix Systems Inc., SAP AG and Good Technology Inc. VMware needs AirWatch to fill out its line of management tools for gadgets that touch individual users, Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger said.

// ES: strong evidence that mobile is penetrating the enterprise. More software on the handset means increased demand for hardware performance, pushing semiconductor industry into expansion.

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