U.S. files antitrust suit to stop Microsoft from its $2.1 billion acquisition of Intuit; electronic-commerce plans of the software giant in peril; firms to fight

Article Abstract:

The U.S. Department of Justice is filing a lawsuit against Microsoft in order to stop that company's planned $2.1 billion acquisition of Intuit Inc, the maker of Quicken personal finance software. The personal finance software market is one of the last areas of the software industry where Microsoft does not play a major role. The lawsuit charges that the proposed acquisition would give Microsoft too great an advantage both in the personal finance software market and in its entry into the developing electronic commerce market. Microsoft and Intuit are planning to fight the lawsuit; officials from both companies are optimistic that they will prevail. Microsoft's competitors are pleased with the lawsuit and say that it gives the smaller players in the computer software industry an opportunity to fight back against the giant company.

Cases, Microsoft Corp., United States. Department of Justice, MSFT, Industry legal issue, Litigation, Lawsuit/litigation, Intuit Inc.

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Cisco is buying GeoTel for $1.92 billion in stock

Article Abstract:

Cisco Systems Inc. will purchase GeoTel Communications Corp., a maker of software that routes calls from firms' customers to call centers, in a deal whereby Cisco will issue 0.5138 share of its common stock for each share of GeoTel. The deal comes as Cisco continues to buy firms that specialize in technology to work in voice and data at the same time. Although Cisco already makes networking equipment that can route packets of data, video or voice, it is trying to get ahead of its rivals, including Lucent Technologies Inc.GeoTel is so far the only company that makes software that routes calls to a call center when operators are busy.

United States, Telephone and telegraph apparatus, Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing, Asset sales & divestitures, Acquisitions & mergers, Data Communications Equip, Computer network equipment industry, Network hardware industry, Data communications equipment, Cisco Systems Inc., CSCO, GeoTel Communications Corp.

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