HP buys wireless network infrastructure company

Hewlett-Packard said on Monday it plans to buy Colubris Networks, furthering the consolidation of wireless networking companies.

Financial terms were not disclosed. HP said the deal should close by the end of fiscal 2008, which occurs in October.

Colubris, founded in 2000 and based in Waltham, Massachusetts, sells wireless access infrastructure products based around the 802.11n wireless standard, which can match or best the speeds of a plugged-in broadband connection.

But the upgrade to 802.11n poses many issues for it to work efficiently. Colubris has centered many of its products around the predicted upgrade of those networks over the next few years. Colubris also sells wireless security and network management products.

HP said products from Colubris will be incorporated into its ProCurve Networking portfolio, which will improve HP's ability to serve the health-care, transportation, manufacturing and education markets, among others.

In June, Belden said it would buy WLAN vendor Trapeze Networks for US$133 million in cash.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.