Citrix buys ShareFile cloud computing company
October 13, 2011
Citrix Systems has plunged further into cloud computing by acquiring ShareFile, a provider of cloud-based data storage, sharing and collaboration service.
Cloud computing, which allows remote access to data, is one of the hottest sectors in technology. Apple has just launched its iCloud service, which allows syncing of photos and music over multiple devices. Verizon Communications acquired Miami’s Terremark Worldwide , partly as a cloud strategy, and then subsequently folded Vermont’s Cloudswitch into the company…
In a news release, Fort Lauderdale-based Citrix (NASDAQ: CTXS) said the ShareFile product line makes it easy for businesses of all sizes to securely store, sync and share business documents and files, both inside and outside the company while using multiple devices.
Raleigh, N.C.-based ShareFile, which has about 85 employees on its payroll, ranked 241st on the Inc. 500 list. In 2010, the company had $7.8 million in revenue, which was up 80 percent from 2009, company officials told the Triangle Business Journal.
ShareFile’s website says it has customized solutions for more than 30 industries.
Prices for ShareFile’s services start at $29.95 a month for two employee accounts and 5 gigabytes of storage, and range up to $499.95 a month for companies that want 100 accounts. Prices for larger operations are offered on a customized basis.
Services include encryption and plug-ins that work with the Microsoft Outlook email and calendar software.
ShareFile CEO Jesse Lipson will become vice president and general manager of the new data-sharing product group at Citrix.
“Joining the Citrix team will provide a great home to the thousands of ShareFile corporate customers," Lipson said in the release. "The combination of Citrix and ShareFile will also help spur … new innovation around the role of data in the new Cloud Era workplace.”
The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Citrix Systems, South Florida’s largest software company, is also known for its GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC products.
Citrix said its latest acquisition shows its strategy in the field of the “personal cloud” – the aggregation of apps, data, preferences and friends that are unique to each individual employee.
Based on industry estimates, Citrix expects the personal cloud market to be a multibillion-dollar opportunity by 2015.
Citrix reported revenue of $531 million, up 16 percent from $458 million in the second quarter. Profit increased to $82 million, or 43 cents a share, from $48 million, or 25 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.
“This is a highly strategic acquisition that enables Citrix to deliver all three of the critical components for the personal cloud – collaboration, apps and data – with amazing accessibility and productivity on any device," Citrix President and CEO Mark Templeton said.
Citrix said more than 230,000 enterprises rely on its products and services to work through virtual meetings, desktops and datacenters. Citrix virtualization, networking and cloud solutions deliver more than 100 million corporate desktops and touch about 75 percent of Internet users each day.