YMAX Corp., the parent company behind the successful VoIP device magicJack has announced a merger with VoIP pioneer VocalTec. The new combined company, which will trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol CALL (NASDAQ: CALL), was formed at the close of business on July 16th. It will be called VocalTec.
In addition to selling well over six million magicJack units since 2008, YMAX is also the largest CLEC in the country, when measured by available area codes and number of state certifications. VocalTec claims to have ‘invented’ VoIP and the softphone, and has the patents to back it up, they say.
The combined company intends to take on the likes of Skype, as well as enforce its patent portfolio. Can you smell a VoIP patent infringement lawsuit or three percolating?
I suspect that combination of the two will help in product development as well. When you add VocalTec’s softswitch, application servers and softphone expertise to YMAX’s successful magicJack brand and sales and marketing acumen, the end result may lead to some interesting disruptive forces in the IP communications marketplace.
Execution is everything, so this is certainly no slam dunk. VocalTec hasn’t exactly been on a tear lately, but the injection of YMAX and magicJack into their domain makes them one to watch — for now.
