 |
The Microsoft acquisition of Whale Communications announced in May closed today. Press release:
Microsoft Corp. today announced it has completed the acquisition of Whale Communications Ltd., strengthening Microsoft’s secure access platform (http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver). Whale’s best-of-breed product line includes the Intelligent Application Gateway, which combines Whale’s secure sockets layer (SSL)-based access and application protection technologies with Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server. To mark the deal close, Microsoft is providing a special price promotion for all current and new customers.Now through Dec. 31, 2006, customers will receive 25 percent off the list price of the Whale Intelligent Application Gateway and 25 percent off on any add-on modules, including Whale’s Connectivity Modules and Application Optimizers. Whale’s Application Optimizers add the benefits of customized policy and content inspection for Microsoft applications and third-party customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, and collaboration platforms.
…
Whale Communications is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.All Whale Communications products, including the Intelligent Application Gateway, remain immediately available through Whale and its global partner channel and Microsoft sales professionals. More information and product specifications are available at http://www.whalecommunications.com or http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver.
There’s also a Q&A here that, among other things, has future rollout plans:
We will have several phases of product availability over the next 18 months. We will continue to offer the broad selection of Whale’s products, including the IAG, Application Optimizers and network connectors. We are also working with our OEM partners to release an updated Whale and Microsoft ISA Server 2006 appliance, which we plan to bring to market in early 2007. At the same time, we will be integrating Whale technologies into the next release of ISA Server itself (after ISA Server 2006), with the intent to release shortly after Windows Server codename “Longhorn.” This new release will fall under the new Microsoft Forefront brand of security and secure-access solutions.
