STF Technologies will now be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Smith Micro Software, Inc. This acquisition establishes Smith Micro as a world leader in the development and sale of Macintosh communications software and enhances the company's current position as a leader in overall PC communications software solutions.
Apple bundles STF Technologies' FAXstf with Apple products and is working with Smith Micro's STF Technologies Macintosh Division on future product offerings.
In related news, Smith Micro's STF Technologies Macintosh Division announced it is developing a Mac® "client" software application for Smith Micro's conexs.com. conexs.com is an Internet service that gives subscribers the ability to make Internet phone calls, have real-time chat sessions, and even make video phone calls (if they have a camera), at no additional charge. Smith Micro's strategic plan for conexs.com is similar in certain ways to that of the Internet "portals" like Yahoo!®, Excite, Lycos®, etc.; that is, develop an extremely large installed base and then sell upgraded products, on-line services, and advertising to the conexs.com user base.
The STF Technologies acquisition immediately increases Smith Micro's revenues, broadens its customer base, compliments its existing Macintosh product line and positions the company as a leader in the development of solutions for the Macintosh Internet telephony market. With the acquisition of STF Technologies, Smith Micro has a very strong Macintosh team as well as the resources to implement its plan to support the Macintosh fax market and aggressively develop and market Internet telephony solutions for Mac users.
The deal will have to clear some regulatory hurdles, but it is not expected to meet any obstacles.
It is significant that a non-Mac company acquired a Mac company to bolster their own Mac presence.