A struggling Motorola has sold some mobile-messaging assets. The handset maker on Tuesday announced it’s selling Good Technology to Visto, a mobile push-synchronization platform. Visto has its sights set on competing with BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, but analysts are skeptical about its chances in an entrenched market.
Good Technology offers wireless messaging, mobile VPN data access, device management, and handheld security for enterprise customers. Visto says adding Good’s service suite in the U.S., Europe and Asia will allow the company to offer a broader range of solutions.
Visto CEO Brian Bogosian said the transaction marks an important milestone in the company’s emergence as a leader for mobile access to applications and content, especially messaging and collaboration data.
“Good’s robust enterprise and government solution will complement Visto’s strong operator presence in business and consumer markets,” Bogosian said. “As a result of this transaction, Visto will now provide customers in over 100 countries an open, robust and secure mobile experience for enterprise customers, on over 400 different mobile devices.”
Visto Spreads Its Wings
Visto has inked deals with AT&T, TELUS, T-Mobile and Vodafone, among others. Through its relationships with U.S. mobile carriers, Good has implementations with thousands of enterprises, including many of the Fortune 500, with a high concentration in the Fortune 50.
So why is Motorola shedding the technology — and the customers that go with it? Because it’s in the best interest of its customers, employees and shareholders, according to Gene Delaney, president of enterprise mobility solutions at Motorola.
“Visto’s acquisition of Good will allow Motorola to continue to concentrate on providing best-in-class business-critical applications, secure management platforms, and mobility services that empower the individual with the right information at the right time to streamline business processes and improve results,” Delaney said.
Visto’s Uphill Battle
Motorola acquired Good Technology in November 2006 for an undisclosed amount….