Server automation and virtualization provider SWsoft (swsoft.com) on September 18, 2007, has acquired software-as-a-service technology provider Sphera (sphera.com). SWsoft will merge Sphera with its automation software business unit that currently powers tens of thousands of servers for businesses and service providers worldwide.

Sphera provides automation, provisioning, virtualization and management software for hosting companies, telecoms and enterprises. Since its formation in 1999, it has been a pioneer in developing SaaS and hosting solutions as well as developing partnerships with IBM, Microsoft and Mitsui. The Denver, Colorado-headquartered company has some 50 employees with global offices in Tel-Aviv, Israel and Tokyo, Japan.

Leading telecom providers such as AT&T, Japan Telecom and Telecom Italia use Sphera's platform to serve 150,000 businesses and more than one million end users with hosted applications. Industry analyst IDC projects SaaS software revenues will reach $10.7 billion by 2009.

"We're building a broader solution set and customer base as a technology provider -- using a standards-based approach -- to enable the delivery of SaaS by application developers and service providers," explained Serguei Beloussov, CEO of SWsoft. "Through our three recent acquisitions, we estimate that we will be able to reach nearly 1.5 million additional business customers through our ISV and service provider partners."