The acquisition had been in the works since January, and has now been finalized. The Canadian equipment manufacturer Mitel takes over Unify from Atos, the entity specializing in unified communications of the ESN. Unify employs around 3,000 employees for a turnover of 550 million euros in 2022.
The former division of Atos claims nearly 40 million users in 90 countries. It covers the market for business communication services (UCaaS) combining telephony, videoconferencing, instant messaging and document sharing. Unify is also entering the cloud contact center (CCaaS) market while offering a range of IP and DECT terminals.
With this acquisition – the details of the agreement have not been revealed – Mitel claims the position of world number two in unified communications. It even claims the number one position in the EMEA region – Europe, Middle East, Africa – and in more than ten countries. In France, it shares the autoexchange (PABX) market with Alcatel-Lucent Entreprise (ALE).
Historically positioned in the medium-sized business market, Mitel is strengthening itself, with Unify, in the large account segment. Useful expertise to support these large groups in the digital transformation of their communication environment and offer them managed services.
With this acquisition, Mitel now has a customer base of more than 75 million users in more than one hundred countries, and a community of more than 5,500 partners, resellers and other service providers. The new group, which employs more than 5,000 employees, is based in the key sectors of health, public service, hospitality and financial services.
In terms of governance, Tarun Loomba, CEO of Mitel, will chair the new company. Marcus Hänsel, CEO of Unify, has been named Chief Sales Officer and will lead Mitel’s global sales and services functions. “The company is committed to ensuring that customers are informed of all future product and service plans, as well as upgrade opportunities and new capabilities“, specifies Mitel in a press release.
Facing the Microsoft Tsunami
This takeover could kick off a larger consolidation movement. Players in unified communications and enterprise collaboration such as Zoom or Cisco must contend with the Microsoft tsunami. In a market valued by IDC at $59.3 billion, up 9.8% in 2022, the Redmond firm is excelling. Number one in the sector, it posted growth of 18.4%.
Popularized during the Covid-19 crisis, its Teams collaboration application has attracted more than 270 million daily users around the world. Beyond its known videoconferencing or file sharing functions, it aims to replace the existing telephone system based on the VoIP protocol or the switched telephone network (PSTN).
With Teams Phone, a company can make and receive calls from any connected terminal – computer, smartphone, tablet – or one of around 150 compatible devices such as desk or hands-free phones and headsets. She keeps her subscription with her operator or uses the Microsoft calling plan.