November 10, 2009 5:20 PM PST

Logitech buys video-conferencing firm LifeSize

by Larry Dignan

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Logitech, a maker of Webcams and other peripherals, said Tuesday it will acquire LifeSize Communications for $405 million in cash. The move puts Logitech into the video conferencing market.

LifeSize offers high-definition video-conferencing systems. LifeSize's customers range from small and medium-size businesses to large companies. I've tested out a few LifeSize systems and found them to be solid systems for the money.

The move by Logitech means that most of the standalone video conferencing players have been acquired. Cisco is planning to buy Tandberg but is having some trouble. And once LifeSize is off the board, Polycom will be the last player standing.

Read more of "Logitech gobbles up LifeSize; Enters video conferencing" at ZDNet.

Larry Dignan is editor in chief of ZDNet and editorial director of CNET's TechRepublic. He has covered the technology and financial-services industries since 1995.

Topics:: Corporate and legal

Tags:: Logitech,; LifeSize,; acquisition,; video conferencing

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