Microsoft Corp. is reportedly in
discussions to acquire Jump
Networks Inc., an Ithaca, NY-based Web calendar service.
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported the two companies are in
closed-door negotiations.
Web calendaring appears to be the latest buzzword in the Internet industry.
Jump’s main rival, When.com, Inc.
was acquired by America Online Inc. April 5, for roughly
$150 million in stock. E-tail giant Amazon.com also provides a calendar service
via its PlanetAll
subsidiary. PlanetAll was acquired last August in a purchase that included shopping service
Junglee for a combined purchase
price-tag of approximately $280 million.
The company contends the product bridges the capabilities of the Internet, personal digital assistants and desktop computers.
Jump launched a beta version on Jan. 18. Its services include free
calendar, e-mail, task lists and address book features. PDA synchronization is integrated with content and communications tools, such as
instant messages and chat. Content providers include Reuters, The Weather Channel,
Exodus, IBM, Dell and Oracle. The company was founded in 1998 by a group of
Cornell University students and investors include IdeaLab Capital Partners.
