Device Provisioning

For some companies, the strategy needed to get through economic ups and downs (or simply stay competitive in a particular market) involves re-examining priorities and making a decision to re-focus on specific strengths. For other companies, organic or inorganic growth is the best option. Sometimes two companies employing these different strategies find they can help each other out.

 

That’s the case with Incognito Software, a provider of device provisioning and network resource management systems, and broadband services company BigBand Networks. Earlier this year, BigBand made the decision to re-focus on its role as a digital video networking supplier, which necessitated trimming other parts of its business, in particular the FastFlow Broadband Provisioning Manager (BPM) product and related assets.

 

Enter Incognito.

 

In a deal announced late last month, Incognito arranged to purchase the FastFlow BMP assets from BigBand. The deal fits into the current market strategies for both companies. BigBand can now focus on boosting its position in the digital video networking market. Incognito significantly increases its customer base, and gains new assets that will enable continued growth in the future.

 

Patricia Steadman, CEO and co-founder of Incognito, said the acquisition of FastFlow BMP complements the company’s commitment to providing device provisioning solutions for multiple service providers (MSOs) wishing to deploy new technologies and services.

 

“Incognito has been at the forefront of PacketCable, DOCSIS 3.0 and IPv6 development and wishes to bring this knowledge to a larger group of customers,” Steadman said in a statement. “The result is a 30 percent increase in our customer base (approximately 150 global service providers) to which we can provide the benefits of our enhanced knowledge, research and development in our core specialty of broadband device provisioning.”

 

For those not familiar, DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) is a standard used to define communication and operation support interfaces for data cable systems. IPv6, which stands for Internet Protocol Version 6, is the next generation protocol for packet-switched networks, which is gradually replacing IPv4; it offers larger address space and other benefits.

 

Incognito will now provide support and maintenance for existing FastFlow BMP customers, while continuing to invest in its device provisioning flagship product, Broadband Command Center. FastFlow customers who wish to migrate to Incognito’s platform will have access to migration tools to streamline the move.