Vertel goes vertical with merger

Retix announced last week that two of its subsidiaries, Vertel Corp. and Retix Wireless Solutions, have merged, a deal that will help Vertel extend its network management expertise into vertical markets.

Vertel is one of the leading global vendors in the burgeoning market for Telecommunications Management Network solutions. Its PowerCats platform, which focuses on the element management, network management and service management layers of the TMN hierarchy, has been widely deployed by carriers and vendors as public network TMN compliance has grown. Retix Wireless also delivers network management solutions, focusing up to this point on cellular digital packet data and two-way paging networks.

The merger will go a step beyond TMN compliance, as the companies integrate Retix Wireless' products with the PowerCats platform to better address the booming wireless market with TMN-based applications, said Bobby Martyna, executive vice president at Vertel. The deal also fulfills Vertel's recently announced strategy to pursue vertical applications development.

"We wanted to be more vertical and get into applications. We were going to something like this anyway, and Wireless Solutions has some TMN expertise of its own that is complimentary to ours," Martyna said. "There is a dearth of management applications for wireless right now.

Indeed, industry observers have noted that TMN's future success depends on its ability to enter an applications phase in which specific carrier needs can be addressed. Other TMN software developers are pursuing similar strategies, and market-driven partnerships and mergers are now becoming commonplace in the management segment of the industry.