GoAmerica Buys Software-Development Company

In a move intended to accelerate development of a wireless Web browser for mobile devices running Java operating systems, wireless data company GoAmerica Inc. has bought software development company OutBack Resource Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

GoAmerica hopes the acquisition will push the completion of the Java-compliant version of its Go.Web wireless browser to the first quarter of 2002. GoAmerica president Joseph Korb says that although Palm and Pocket PC are the dominant operating systems for mobile devices, his company wants to be prepared for the emergence of widely available Java-based devices when 2.5G and third-generation networks are in place. GoAmerica also plans to use OutBack's network-management applications to make inroads with IT managers who want to remotely control their corporate networks. "Having the ability to monitor and run networks from wireless devices gives IT organizations freedom of mobility," Korb says.

If GoAmerica gets into the remote-network-management business, it will face a challenge attracting large-business customers, says Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney. Most large businesses buying network-management software will deploy it themselves and go directly to their carrier for remote access, bypassing the service that GoAmerica would provide, Dulaney adds.

OutBack Resource Group will maintain its San Luis Obispo, Calif., offices and adopt the GoAmerica name, Korb says. OutBack president Jim Mortensen will become director of software development.