Big Blue snaps up Bellevue's Vallent

IBM said Tuesday it plans to acquire Bellevue-based Vallent, which makes software for telecommunications companies to monitor wireless networks.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter, pending regulatory approval. Terms were not disclosed.

Vallent software monitors problems such as failed cell towers, dropped calls and other service problems to help carriers offer fast fixes. Some of its customers are China Mobile, Brasil Telecom and equipment makers Lucent, Motorola.

IBM said it will combine Vallent technology with its Tivoli Software Netcool line, which covers a broad set of services for telecommunications companies.

Privately held Vallent has more than 400 employees in Bellevue; Ireland; the United Kingdom; São Paulo, Brazil; Beijing; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Sydney, Australia; Singapore; Burlington, Mass.; and Richardson, Texas.

"A key driver for IBM's interest in Vallent is the expertise of its people, whose deep knowledge, experience and relationships in the telecommunications industry will help IBM better serve our clients," IBM spokeswoman Clay Helm said in an e-mail.

"Nearly all Vallent employees will receive continuing employment opportunities with IBM, performing the same or similar roles they have today," he said.

IBM intends to keep the Bellevue location in the near term but "may choose to consolidate operations to other area IBM facilities" in the future, Helm said.

Vallent is the result of a combination over the past few years of WatchMark, Metrica Software Systems and Comnitel Technologies.

The company was funded by venture-capital firms including Argo Global Capital, Columbia Capital, Ericsson Venture Partners, Investor Growth Capital and Pequot Capital.

Benjamin J. Romano: 206-464-2149 or bromano@seattletimes.com