UK-based telecom applications firm Aepona and Swedish company Appium announced a merger creating a single business entity to address the global telecom application market.
The two firms said the merger will create a single business operating under the name Aepona.
The new company will target the global service delivery platform market, which is worth
$1.4 billion in 2007 and is predicted forecast to reach $3.2 billion by 2011, according to analyst OSS Observer.
The merged company will be headquartered in Belfast with the Sweden facility continuing to serve as a development centre and regional sales office.
'This deal makes a lot of sense for both companies', said Jean-Charles Doineau, analyst at research firm Ovum.
'While it is clear that there is a significant and growing market opportunity for independent software vendors within the service platform segment, this can only be addressed by companies with real credibility in the marketplace," the analyst added.