WebEx Communications has acquired five Web conferencing
patents from NCR . Terms were not disclosed.
The patents, which were filed between 1993 and 1997, relate to collaboration
technologies that allow the image or text changes made by one conference
member to appear on the screens of others in the online group.
As part of the agreement, WebEx obtained licenses to other NCR patents, and
the companies agreed not to sue each other over other intellectual property in
their respective portfolios.
Colin Smith, a WebEx spokesman, said the patent deal was not the result of
any lawsuit, but rather a move by WebEx to further broaden its intellectual
property portfolio.
To date, San Jose, Calif.-based WebEx’s on-demand conferencing applications
have been viewed as a way to cut travel expenses for companies with
far-flung offices.
But last month, WebEx introduced an
offering to enhance team selling and generate revenue.
The WebEx Sales Center offering also has prospects engaged throughout the sales
cycle and to provide sales managers with the capability to monitor and
measure Web-based sales operations. WebEx competes with Microsoft’s LiveMeeting service, among others.
In other WebEx news, the company has integrated SIP-based
technology from Pactolus Communications Software
into its network. The move will allow for IP voice
conferencing services.
Smith said WebEx has had VoIP capabilities before, but some of the software
behind it was home-grown. Pactolus expands its SIP foundations, he said.