Logitech buys SightSpeed for $30M

Logitech International, the Swiss manufacturer of PC peripherals, announced the acquisition of SIP-based video communications company SightSpeed for around $30 million Tuesday. The deal is expected to close in early November, following completion of standard closing procedures and conditions.

In a release, Logitech stated SightSpeed's video technology and research and development team would allow the manufacturer to develop new video solutions for the home market. Logitech claimed the merger would produce "future video calling initiatives that can enable cross-platform video communications with an intuitive, lifelike experience, for people sitting in front of a personal computer or with their family in a living room."

Logitech, perhaps best known for computer mice it makes, is making a serious play into the nascent personal video communications market with the SightSpeed buy. It already sells high-end video cameras for online video conferencing and chat, and some VoIP equipment as well.

"With this acquisition, we are significantly augmenting our current video R&D resources to help us move more quickly toward our goals for video services that complement the way people socialize, communicate and enjoy entertainment," said Junien Labrousse, executive vice president of Logitech's Products group, in the Logitech release.

There was no mention in the release of whether SightSpeed's 25 employees would continue to operate out of their Fremont, Calif., office, but Logitech's U.S. HQ happens in Fremont too, so any relocation should be relatively seamless. 

For more:
- see the Logitech/SightSpeed release here 

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