Sponsored By

Unify Will Be Siemens' No MoreUnify Will Be Siemens' No More

Atos, a French digital services firm, buys Unify to fill out its digital services portfolio.

Beth Schultz

November 4, 2015

1 Min Read
No Jitter logo in a gray background | No Jitter

Atos, a French digital services firm, buys Unify to fill out its digital services portfolio.

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.

Follow Beth Schultz and No Jitter on Twitter and Google+!
@nojitter
@Beth_Schultz
Beth Schultz on Google+

About the Author

Beth Schultz

In her role at Metrigy, Beth Schultz manages research operations, conducts primary research and analysis to provide metrics-based guidance for IT, customer experience, and business decision makers. Additionally, Beth manages the firm’s multimedia thought leadership content.

With more than 30 years in the IT media and events business, Beth is a well-known industry influencer, speaker, and creator of compelling content. She brings to Metrigy a wealth of industry knowledge from her more than three decades of coverage of the rapidly changing areas of digital transformation and the digital workplace.

Most recently, Beth was with Informa Tech, where for seven years she served as program co-chair for Enterprise Connect, the leading independent conference and exhibition for the unified communications and customer experience industries, and editor in chief of the companion No Jitter media site. While with Informa Tech, Beth also oversaw the development and launch of WorkSpace Connect, a multidisciplinary media site providing thought leadership for IT, HR, and facilities/real estate managers responsible for creating collaborative, connected workplaces.

Over the years, Beth has worked at a number of other technology news organizations, including All Analytics, Network World, CommunicationsWeek, and Telephony Magazine. In these positions, she has earned more than a dozen national and regional editorial excellence awards from American Business Media, American Society of Business Press Editors, Folio.net, and others.

Beth has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and lives in Chicago.