Acme Packet has acquired privately-held Covergence for consideration valued at approximately $22.8 million, consisting of approximately $22.2 million of Acme Packet common stock and an aggregate of $0.6 million in cash payments to stockholders of Covergence and tax withholding payments. The Maynard, Massachusetts based company is an emerging, innovative provider of software-based session border controllers for delivering VoIP/IP telephony, Unified Communications and Service-Oriented Architecture applications within global 1000 enterprises.

Covergence’s software-based SBCs will complement Acme Packet’s existing Net-Net family of custom hardware-based SBCs by extending Acme Packet’s low-end product range to address the needs of small and remote enterprise locations. Available as hardened Unix-based software for Intel x86-class servers or as a virtual machine package, Covergence’s SBCs will provide Acme Packet’s distribution partners and enterprise customers with new, capital expenditure and operating expense friendly price points for smaller sites. Opportunities for Acme Packet partners will also include the physical integration of this software-based SBC with other enterprise IP networking or communications equipment. From a customer leadership perspective, the Covergence acquisition will add four of the Fortune 25 to Acme Packet’s growing base of enterprise customers.

The core Covergence team will be relocated to Acme Packet’s headquarters in nearby Burlington, Massachusetts. Three Covergence executives will be joining Acme Packet in roles closely related to their positions at Covergence: Ken Kuenzel, Office of the Chief Technology Officer; Jim Donovan, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management; and Marty Falaro, Vice President, Business Development.