An overview of the week in deals in the Irish technology sector, including Cork-based IPTV technology firm Digisoft.tv’s deal to launch digital TV in Russia, and the collaboration between Dudalk Institute of Technology and National University of Ireland, Galway, to advance Irish software research.
Cork tech firm in major deal to launch digital TV in Russia
Cork-based IPTV technology firm Digisoft.tv has struck a deal with Personal Media Technology (PMT) to deliver terrestrial TV channels across Russia. The terrestrial TV offerings will complement PMT’s OViVO personalised TV service.
OViVO is a new personalised digital TV platform that organises the user’s TV viewing for them. The system analyses viewing choices, learns what a viewer likes and assembles playlists. The more the viewer watches TV, the better its recommendations.
The platform also enables advertisers to deliver personalised ads to their target-audience.
DkIT and NUIG join forces for software research
Irish software engineering research centre Lero announced that Dudalk Institute of Technology (DkiT) and National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) have entered a formal collaboration in order to further advance Irish software research.
DkIT and NUIG will now collaborate on projects, including the EU’s Framework Programme 7 projects.
Lero is based in the University of Limerick (UL), UCD, TCD and DCU. It has been working with DkIT and NUIG for some time.
This agreement marks the first time that the collaboration has been formalised, which will have a significant impact on Irish software research on the world stage.
FleetMatics acquires US software company SageQuest
Irish GPS tracking software provider FleetMatics has acquired a software-as-a-service (SaaS) firm for an undisclosed sum. FleetMatics’ acquisition of SageQuest will help the company grow its global market share.
“With this acquisition of SageQuest, FleetMatics will extend its ability to deliver the best-in-class products and services to fleets of all sizes,” explained Jim Travers, CEO of FleetMatics.
“It is the strength of our combined products and services, as well as our reputation as superior service providers that compelled this combination to happen.”
SageQuest LLC provides proven GPS vehicle management solutions that improve the efficiency and productivity of mobile workers for utility, cable and broadband companies throughout North America.
Amazon acquires Amie Street, shuts it down
Amazon has bought out independent music marketplace Amie Street and will shut down all of its retail operations, leaving them to focus solely on Songza.
From September 22 on, users will no longer be able to access Amie Street’s services and all AmieStreet.com pages will be redirected to Amazon.com.
It urges users to spend all their credit and download all purchased music before this date, as they will not carry over to Amazon.
Data Electronics and Enet sign €1.5m deal
Data Electronics has announced it has secured a five-year, €1.5m deal to provide a secure co-location facility along with managed services to Enet, which operates the State’s metropolitan area network (MAN) programme.
Data Electronics said the co-location area provided to Enet will be a wholly dedicated private suite that supplies a fully redundant environment for Enet’s mission critical equipment. It said that by hosting in the carrier-neutral data centre, Enet will also have physical access to more than 40 national and international carriers.
Enet’s investment is part of its overall strategy to upgrade and future-proof the network in advance of increased bandwidth demands and a full migration to carrier ethernet.
HP Galway wins second major cloud computing deal
HP’s 500-strong Galway operation has won a second major cloud computing deal with GS1 to deploy a cloud-based product recall system that tracks, traces and recalls potentially harmful food, healthcare and other products from the supply chain.
The deal comes a year after HP’s Galway operations revealed it began work with the Canadian arm of GS1 – a global not-for-profit organisation – to deploy a similar service. The operation expects to announce other major contracts in the coming months.
