Ribbon Communications#Genband

Ribbon Communications was the combination of two companies, each of which had acquired other businesses over their history.

Ribbon Communications was founded in October, 2017, following the merger of Genband and Sonus Networks in May.{{Cite news|url=https://ribboncommunications.com/company/media-center/press-releases/sonus-networks-inc-announces-completion-sonus-and-genband-merger|title=Sonus Networks, Inc. Announces Completion of Sonus and GENBAND Merger|access-date=2018-09-03|language=en}}

Ray Dolan initially headed the combined company, while Walsh led the Kandy business unit.{{Cite news |url= https://www.lightreading.com/services/cloud-services/sonus-and-genband-finally-combine-to-form-$745m-company-/d/d-id/733084 |title=Sonus & Genband Finally Combine to Form $745M Company |work= Light Reading |author= Dan Jones |date= May 23, 2010 |access-date= August 30, 2021 |language=en}}

By December, Dolan, who had led Sonus since 2010, resigned.{{Cite news |url= https://www.lightreading.com/services/unified-communication/ribbon-cuts-ties-with-ray-dolan-names-new-ceo/d/d-id/739042 |title=Ribbon Cuts Ties With Ray Dolan, Names New CEO |work= Light Reading |author= Iain Morris |date= December 14, 2017 |access-date= August 27, 2021 |language=en}}

Franklin (Fritz) W. Hobbs was appointed as president and CEO of the combined organization{{Cite news|url=https://www.thefastmode.com/leadership-and-management/11787-fritz-hobbs-to-lead-ribbon-as-president-and-ceo|title=Fritz Hobbs to Lead Ribbon as President and CEO|last=Sharma|first=Ray|access-date=2018-09-03|language=en}} and served in that role until November 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Ribbon+Communications+(RBBN)+Announces+Departure+of+CEO+Franklin+Hobbs/16134350.html|title=Ribbon Communications (RBBN) Announces Departure of CEO Franklin Hobbs|work=StreetInsider.com|access-date=2020-01-20}}

In January 2018, the company announced that its session border controllers would be used in the virtual network services of Verizon.{{Cite news |url= https://www.uctoday.com/news/whats-new/verizon-offers-sbc-service-ribbon-part-virtual-network-services/ |title= Verizon Offers SBC as a Service with Ribbon as Part of Virtual Network Services |date= January 31, 2018 |work= UC Today |access-date= August 30, 2021 |language=en-GB}} In 2018 Ribbon also acquired Edgewater Networks.{{Cite news |url= https://www.telecomtv.com/content/cloud/ribbon-communications-announces-completion-of-edgewater-networks-inc-acquisition-31994/ |title= Ribbon Communications announces completion of Edgewater Networks acquisition |date= August 13, 2018 |work= Press release |access-date= August 23, 2021 |language=en}}

In November 2019, Ribbon announced it would acquire ECI Telecom from Shaul Shani for $486 million in cash and stock.{{Cite news |title= Ribbon Communications to buy ECI Telecom for $486m |date= November 14, 2019 |url= https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-ribbon-communications-to-buy-eci-telecom-for-486m-1001307363 |work= Globes}} The company completed the merger in March 2020.

In February 2020, Bruce McClelland was named president, CEO and director.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiercetelecom.com/tech/former-arris-ceo-bruce-mcclelland-gets-top-job-at-ribbon|title=Former Arris CEO Bruce McClelland gets top job at Ribbon|website=FierceTelecom|language=en|access-date=2020-03-26}}{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ribbon-communications-inc-announces-bruce-mcclelland-as-its-president-chief-executive-officer-and-director-301007851.html|title=Ribbon Communications Inc. Announces Bruce McClelland as Its President, Chief Executive Officer and Director|last=Inc|first=Ribbon Communications|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} A years later, Ribbon moved its headquarters to Plano, Texas.{{cite web |last1=Womack |first1=Brian |title=Boston area tech company worth over $1B quietly relocated its HQ to Plano this year |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2021/04/21/ribbon-communications-plano-hq.html |publisher=Dallas Business Journal}}

In August 2020, AVCTechnologies announced an agreement to buy Kandy Communications Business.{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Rebekah |title=AVC Technologies Buys Ribbon's Kandy Communications |date=12 August 2020 |url=https://www.uctoday.com/unified-communications/cpaas/avc-technologies-buys-ribbons-kandy-communications/ |publisher=UC Today}}

General Bandwidth was founded in 1999 by Paul Carew, Brendon Mills, Ron Lutz and Steve Raich in Austin, Texas, and received initial venture capital funding of $12 million. The company raised over $200 million in four rounds of venture funding and grew to over 200 people by 2003. In 2004, Mills resigned and was replaced as CEO by Charles Vogt.{{Cite web |url= https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/09/20/daily1.html| title=Mills Steps Down as General Bandwidth CEO | work= Austin Business Journal |date= September 20, 2004 |access-date= August 23, 2021 }}

In March 2006, General Bandwidth changed its name to Genband, Inc. and moved its headquarters to Plano, Texas.

Genband started as a media gateway vendor selling the G6 media gateway, but eventually branched out to IP switching, IP applications, IP Multimedia Subsystem and session border controllers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmcnet.com/enews/e-newsletters/sip-enews/20060830/2409-genband-retooling-ims.htm| title= GenBand: Retooling for IMS |author= Richard Grigonis |date= August 29, 2006 |website=www.tmcnet.com |access-date= August 30, 2021 }}

In August, 2006, Genband acquired Syndeo and Baypackets (headquartered in Fremont, California, with employees mostly in India).{{Cite news |url= http://www.lightreading.com/ethernet-ip/voip-systems/genband-splashes-out-for-baypackets/d/d-id/631398 |title=Genband Splashes Out for BayPackets |work= Light Reading |author= Phil Harvey |date= August 30, 2006 |access-date= August 25, 2021 |language=en}}

In October, 2006 it acquired the digital central office products known as Siemens DCO.{{Cite web |url= http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/genband-buys-siemens-dco-products/2006-10-06 |title=Genband buys Siemens DCO products |website= Fierce Enterprise Communications |date= October 5, 2006 |access-date= August 25, 2021 }}

In 2007, Genband acquired Tekelec's switching group, which expanded product offerings in application software and SIP trunking gateways. In 2008, the company acquired Nokia Siemens Networks’ Surpass HiG media gateway product portfolio, including fixed-line trunking media gateways. The company concluded 2008 with the acquisition of NextPoint Networks, which included session border controller (SBCs) and security gateway offerings.

In May 2010, Genband purchased Nortel Networks' carrier VoIP and application business for an estimated net $182 million after Nortel became bankrupt.{{Cite news |url= https://www.eweek.com/networking/genband-integrates-nortel-voip-products-into-road-map/ |title= Genband Integrates Nortel VOIP Products into Road Map |work=eWEEK |date= June 22, 2010 |access-date= August 27, 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.lightreading.com/ethernet-ip/voip-systems/genband-wins-nortels-carrier-voip-biz/d/d-id/674872 |title=Genband Wins Nortel's Carrier VoIP Biz |work= Light Reading |author= Phil Harvey |date= February 24, 2010 |access-date= August 30, 2021 |language=en}}

Existing shareholder One Equity Partners assisted in financing.{{Cite news |title= Nortel to sell carrier VoIP businesses to Genband |url= https://www.thestar.com/business/2009/12/23/nortel_to_sell_carrier_voip_businesses_to_genband.html |work= Toronto Star |date= December 23, 2009 |access-date= August 30, 2021 }}

In June, 2010, Genband was re-incorporated as Genband, Inc, and disclosed an equity investment from executives and board members of about $4 million.{{Cite web |title= Form D: Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities |date= June 10, 2010 |access-date= August 27, 2021 |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001493982/000149398210000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml |publisher= US Securities and Exchange Commission }}

In December, 2010 it moved its headquarters to Frisco, Texas, keeping its Plano campus as a design center. Both are near Dallas, Texas.{{Cite news |title= Genband Opens New Worldwide Corporate Headquarters in Frisco, Texas |url-status= dead |date= December 10, 2010 |work= Press release |url= https://www.genband.com/media-center/press-releases/genband-opens-new-worldwide-corporate-headquarters-frisco-texas |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120503200904/https://www.genband.com/media-center/press-releases/genband-opens-new-worldwide-corporate-headquarters-frisco-texas |archive-date= May 3, 2012 |access-date= August 25, 2021 }}

In January, 2011, Genband acquired Cedar Point Communications in Derry, New Hampshire.{{Cite web |url= https://www.rcrwireless.com/20110104/network-infrastructure/genband-picks-up-cedar-point-for-stronger-voip-position |title= Genband picks up Cedar Point for stronger VoIP position |work= RCR Wireless News |author= Tracy Ford |date= January 4, 2011 |language=en-US |access-date= August 24, 2001 }}

In 2012, Genband acquired Aztek Networks, a switch maker specializing in hardware that allows for a smoother transition from legacy to IP networks.{{Cite web |title=Genband buys Aztek Networks to bolster network transformation offering - FierceEnterpriseCommunications |url=http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/genband-buys-aztek-networks-bolster-network-transformation-offering/2012-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134449/http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/genband-buys-aztek-networks-bolster-network-transformation-offering/2012-04-03 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2015-10-14 }} Genband was named the top-ventured capital backed company by the Wall Street Journal out of nearly 6,000 companies that were considered.{{cite web |last=Needleman |first=Sarah E. |date=27 September 2012 |title=Genband's Technology Makes It a Winner |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444358804578016360513649342 |website=Wsj.com |accessdate=1 August 2018}}

On February 12, 2013, Genband announced the launch of the NUViA Cloud offering which was their entry into the SaaS market. The NUViA Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) offering included HD voice, video, multimedia messaging, mobility, conferencing, Web collaboration, desktop clients, and fixed and mobile convergence hosted from datacenters run by the company around the globe.{{cite web | url=https://ribboncommunications.com/company/media-center/press-releases/genband-launches-nuvia-cloud-offering | title=GENBAND Launches NUViA Cloud Offering }}

Also in 2013, Genband acquired Fringland Ltd., provider of the Fring! app, an over-the-top (OTT) mobile IP communications service provider. Two years later, it announced the Fring Alliance, a community promoting communications service providers to provide instant messaging, voice and video services to their subscribers.{{cite web |title=Fring Alliance Aims to Become Carrier VoIP Cooperative |url=http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/ip-communications/fring-alliance-aims-to-become-carrier-voip-cooperative.html |website=Communications and Technology Blog - Tehrani.com |accessdate=1 August 2018}} Charles Vogt left Genband in 2013 and David Walsh added the CEO position to his other already held title of chairman.{{Cite web |title=GENBAND CEO Charlie Vogt to step down |url=https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/genband-ceo-charlie-vogt-to-step-down |access-date=2020-05-29 |website=FierceTelecom |language=en}}

In 2014, Genband acquired uReach Technologies, a provider of unified communications and messaging, and introduced unified communications products and services for business customers.{{cite web |title=Genband Expands Reach in UC Market With uReach Acquisition |url=http://www.eweek.com/networking/genband-expands-reach-in-uc-market-with-ureach-acquisition.html |website=Eweek.com |accessdate=1 August 2018}}

In September 2014, Genband announced Kandy.io, cloud-based, real-time software support communications marketed as platform as a service (PaaS).{{Cite news |url= https://www.virtualizationpractice.com/genband-kandy-communications-platform-service-28835/ |title= GENBAND Kandy: A Communications Platform as a Service |last=Norman|first=Mike |date= September 26, 2014 |work= The Virtualization Practice |access-date= August 27, 2021 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140927110211/http://www.virtualizationpractice.com/genband-kandy-communications-platform-service-28835/ |archive-date= September 27, 2014 |language=en-US}}

In May 2015, Genband was named in CNBC's "disruptor" list.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/12/genband-disruptor-50.html|title=Disruptor 50: No. 22 GENBAND |date= 2015-05-12|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-09-03}}

In 2016, it was involved in a patent dispute with Metaswitch.{{Cite news |url= https://www.lightreading.com/ethernet-ip/voip-systems/genband-wins-round-1-in-court-clash-with-metaswitch/d/d-id/720524 |title=Genband Wins Round 1 in Court Clash With Metaswitch |work= Light Reading |author= Ray Le Maistre |date= January 20, 2016 |access-date= August 25, 2021 |language=en}}

In September, 2016, pre-packaged software using the Kandy technology were announced, called "Kandy wrappers".{{Cite web |url= http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/2016/09/kandy_celebrates_two_years_of/ |title= Kandy Celebrates Two Years of Significant Growth with a Differentiated Real Time Communications Platform Offering |work= Press release |date= September 22, 2016 |language=en |access-date= August 27, 2021 }}

Sonus Networks, Inc. was founded in August 1997 by Jay Pasco-Anderson, Karl Schwiegershausen, Michael G. Hluchyj, Rubin Gruber and Tony Risica.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Hluchyj was chief technology officer, Gruber served as president until November 1998, when Hassan M. Ahmed became CEO and chairman.

There were no revenues until the quarter ending in March 2000, with accumulated losses of about $50 million against $1.1 million revenues.

On May 31, 2000, Sonus had its initial public offering (IPO), raising over $100 million. It was listed on Nasdaq with the symbol SONS.{{Cite web|title= Prospectus for Sonus Networks, Inc. |date= May 24, 2000 |access-date= August 25, 2021 |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1105472/000091205700026278/0000912057-00-026278.txt |publisher= US Securities and Exchange Commission }}

At the time (near the end of the dot-com bubble), it was located in Westford, Massachusetts.

In January 2001, Sonus acquired Anousheh Ansari's firm Telecom Technologies, Inc., in an all-stock deal. Sonus subsequently integrated TTI's soft switch technology INtelligentIP into its own packet telephony suite.

In 2008, Richard Nottenburg joined as chief executive.{{Cite news |title= Nottenburg Joins Sonus Networks As Chief Executive |work= Network Computing |author= William Gardner |date= May 21, 2008 |url= https://www.networkcomputing.com/nottenburg-joins-sonus-networks-chief-executive |access-date= August 27, 2021 }}

A product called a network border switch was announced in 2003, and updated in 2006.{{Cite news |url= https://ribboncommunications.com/company/media-center/press-releases/sonus-networks-introduces-new-version-network-border-switch |title= Sonus Networks Introduces New Version Of Network Border Switch |work= Press release |date= August 2, 2006 |access-date= August 30, 2021 |language=en}}

In August 2012, Sonus acquired Network Equipment Technologies, Inc., for approximately $42 million. The acquisition complemented their existing SBC line with the NET UX series for SIP Trunking and SIP-based UC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2012/06/19/sonus-to-acquire-network-equipment.html|title=Sonus Acquires Network Equipment Technologies|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2018-09-03}}

On December 13, 2013, Sonus agreed to acquire Performance Technologies Inc entered into a definitive merger agreement, under which Sonus will acquire PT for $3.75 per share in cash, or approximately $30 million.[6]

In 2014 Sonus acquired Performance Technologies, moving into the diameter signaling market.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lightreading.com/spit-(service-provider-it)/diameter-routing-signaling/sonus-to-acquire-performance-technologies/d/d-id/706957|title=Sonus to Acquire Performance Technologies {{!}} Light Reading|work=Light Reading|access-date=2018-09-03|language=en}}

In 2016 Sonus Networks Inc., acquired Taqua expanding its soft switching portfolio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lightreading.com/mobile/packet-core/sonus-snaps-up-taqua-for-$20m/d/d-id/726470|title=Sonus Snaps Up Taqua for $20M |work=Light Reading|access-date=2018-09-03|language=en}}

Kandy is a cloud communications platform created by Genband in September 2014.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Genband Kandy: A New Development Platform Launches |url=https://www.nojitter.com/genband-kandy-new-development-platform-launches |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=}}

Kandy was formed when GENBAND announced the launch of its real-time software development communications platform in September 2014.{{Cite web |title=Genband's Kandy sweetens unified communications with PaaS |url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/tech/genband-s-kandy-sweetens-unified-communications-paas |access-date=2019-11-25 |website=FierceWireless |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Bob |title=GENBAND's New Kandy PaaS Could Become The Uber of Biz App Design |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobegan/2014/09/16/genbands-new-kandy-paas-could-become-the-uber-of-biz-app-design/ |access-date=2019-11-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Initially only focused on CPaaS, the scope of the platform was quickly expanded to include GENBAND's Nuvia UCaaS offer, rebranded Kandy Business Solutions (KBS). After the 2017 merger Ribbon Communications maintained the Kandy offerings and Kandy sub brand for its cloud portfolio.

On December 2, 2020, Ribbon Communications sold the Kandy assets to AVCtechnologies. AVCT issued to Ribbon units of securities consisting of convertible debentures in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $45 million and warrants to purchase an aggregate of approximately 4.5 million shares of AVCT's common stock for an exercise price of $0.01 per share.

{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avctechnologies-completes-strategic-acquisition-of-ribbons-kandy-communications-301183305.html | title=AVCtechnologies Completes Strategic Acquisition of Ribbon's Kandy Communications }} On January 11, 2023, American Virtual Cloud and all of its affiliated subsidiaries, including AVCtechnologies and Kandy Communications, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company will continue to operate normally as 'debters-in-possession'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-virtual-cloud-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-11673449027|title=American Virtual Cloud Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|date=January 11, 2023|access-date=November 4, 2023|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en}}

• {{Official website| ribboncommunications.com }}

Category:Networking hardware companies

Category:Companies based in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Category:Westford, Massachusetts

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2017

Category:Networking companies of the United States

Category:Telecommunications equipment vendors

Category:Computer companies of the United States

Category:Computer hardware companies