OpenText, a provider of fax and fax over IP (FoIP) servers, has acquired EasyLink Services (News - Alert) International, a provider of Internet fax services to enterprises. The purchase boosts OpenText to the second top supplier of overall Internet fax services behind j2 Global (News - Alert), a provider of cloud-based services including online faxing, virtual phone system and hosted e-mail services.

Improvements in the world of fax are making offices more paperless, organization communications more streamlined, and customer interactions more succinct. Newly released fax solutions that boast the ability to support increasingly popular trends including IP communication, virtualization, cloud computing, and application integration, allow for business-to-business communications to be radically improved.OpenText is the world's largest independent provider of Enterprise Content Management software with $1 billion in revenue and support for approximately 46,000 customers and millions of users in 114 countries and 12 languages. OpenText also owns RightFax, the leading fax server and FoIP brand in the world, and already operates a number of could-based services.

EasyLink Services offers a comprehensive portfolio of “any to any” business messaging and transaction services that can bridge the most challenging technology gaps, while creating significant cost efficiencies across an organization. It offers desktop fax and production messaging, managed file transfer, document capture and management and secure messaging and notifications among other services.

The deal is going to the OpenText board of directors for approval, which is predicted to be approved by mid-summer. With the merger, OpenText will be able to broaden its customer base and offer fax services along with fax servers.

"Easylink is a recognized leader in cloud-based Secure Information Exchange,” said OpenText CEO, Mark J. Barrenechea. “We see strong opportunities for our mutual customers, partners, employees and product roadmap. EasyLink has demonstrated operational discipline and earnings as reflected in their financial results. Once the transaction is closed, we look forward to the market opportunities of offering a best-in-class combined portfolio of cloud-based services."

OpenText recently participated in the American Tour de Cure Maryland, a cycling event aiming to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Heavily involved in the healthcare industry, OpenText’s fax solution can help the medical world adhere to rigorous compliance standards, which could result in astronomical fines if not followed precisely.