Radvision

Radvision was an Israeli communications-technology company founded in 1992 by Ami Amir and Eli Doron. It began with the ambition of creating a platform that would allow personal-computer users to make video calls over organizational networks. Because demand for that initial concept was limited, the company redirected its efforts toward software toolkits and infrastructure for developers of voice-over-IP, video-conferencing, and other IP-communications equipment. The company built its business around two related activities. The first was developer technology: protocol stacks, software frameworks, testing tools, and infrastructure for manufacturers and communications providers. The second was finished video-conferencing and collaboration products sold under the Radvision and SCOPIA brands. This combination allowed Radvision to participate both as a component supplier and as a provider of complete enterprise communications systems. Radvision became active in VoIP standards work during the mid-1990s and worked with major technology companies including Intel and Microsoft. It supported both H.323-based communications and, from 2001, the increasingly important Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The company also worked on MEGACO implementations for IP phones and residential or small-office gateways, and later developed technology for IP, 3G, Wi-Fi, and IP Multimedia Subsystem environments. Its technology business supplied software infrastructure, development tools, and testing capabilities for converged voice, video, and data services. Its video portfolio developed from early IP-video transmission and gateway products into a broader enterprise collaboration platform. Radvision introduced technology linking IP and ISDN networks, the viaIP family of systems, the ECS gatekeeper, the SCOPIA video-conferencing portfolio, and the SCOPIA 3G Video Gateway. Through acquisitions and partnerships, it added management software, desktop collaboration, room systems, and integrations with Microsoft collaboration environments. Products and technologies associated with the company included Click to Meet, acquired through FVC.com, the IView management platform obtained through Visionex, assets from AETHRA, and the BEEHD communications framework for desktop, embedded, and mobile devices. Radvision became a publicly traded company in 2000, with shares traded in the United States and Israel. Its leadership later included Gadi Tamari and Boaz Raviv, who became chief executive in 2006. The company expanded internationally through offices and commercial activity in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Israel. Partnerships with Cisco, LifeSize, Microsoft, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Freescale, and other technology companies helped extend its reach across hardware, software, and communications infrastructure. Avaya acquired Radvision in June 2012, ending Radvision's existence as an independent public company and incorporating its collaboration technology into Avaya's portfolio. In July 2014, Spirent Communications acquired Radvision's Technology Business Unit from Avaya, and the unit became part of Spirent's Developer Tools business. Consequently, Radvision is best understood as a defunct independent corporate brand whose legacy continued through Avaya's collaboration activities and Spirent's developer-technology operations.

Radvision was established in Israel in 1992 by Ami Amir and Eli Doron. The founders initially sought to create a networked personal-computer video-calling platform. The market for that product was not yet sufficiently developed, so Radvision shifted toward supplying software components and development tools to manufacturers of VoIP and video-communications equipment. This change established the technical orientation that remained central to the company throughout its independent existence. From the mid-1990s, Radvision participated in the development and implementation of IP-communications standards, working with companies such as Intel and Microsoft. In 1993 it developed technology for real-time video transmission over IP networks, and in 1994 it introduced a gateway linking IP and ISDN environments. The company subsequently released the viaIP line of video-conferencing products in 1996 and an ECS gatekeeper system in 1998. These products addressed the practical need to connect different network types and manage endpoints in enterprise and service-provider environments. Radvision expanded its protocol and developer-technology activities during the early 2000s. In 2001 it added support for SIP alongside H.323, reflecting the growing importance of SIP in Internet telephony and unified communications. It also worked with Texas Instruments on MEGACO technology for IP phones and VoIP gateways. In 2004, Radvision acquired Visionex and its IView management platform, strengthening its position in video-network administration. The same year, it was selected by Freescale to provide development tools for applications using the company's processor technology and introduced solutions aimed at 3G and Wi-Fi communications. The company entered the public markets in March 2000, when it listed on NASDAQ under the symbol RVSN. Its shares were also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Leadership changed in 2001, when Gadi Tamari succeeded co-founder Ami Amir as chief executive, followed by Boaz Raviv in January 2006. Public-company status provided Radvision with capital and visibility as the market for enterprise video, IP telephony, and networked collaboration developed. During the middle and late 2000s, Radvision broadened its business beyond infrastructure components. It adopted IMS-related technology in 2006 and entered a licensing agreement with Microsoft for tools compatible with Microsoft Live Communications Server. It also collaborated with LifeSize on high-definition video communications. In 2005, Radvision acquired FVC.com and its Click to Meet software, formerly associated with CU-SeeMe, adding workstation-oriented collaboration capabilities. The company continued developing systems for service-provider networks and enterprise deployments. Radvision's SCOPIA portfolio became a principal expression of its finished-product strategy. In 2007 it introduced the SCOPIA 3G Video Gateway, designed to connect video communications with emerging third-generation mobile networks. In 2010, the company acquired assets of the Italian video-conferencing supplier AETHRA, adding room-system capabilities to the SCOPIA offering. It also worked with Samsung on a high-definition video-conferencing monitor and partnered with Microsoft on hardware and software integration for Microsoft Lync. That year Radvision introduced BEEHD, a framework intended for advanced video communications across desktop, embedded, and mobile devices. The competitive environment changed as large technology companies consolidated the video-conferencing market. Cisco's acquisition of Tandberg in 2009 highlighted the strategic importance of enterprise video and increased pressure on specialist suppliers to scale or join larger platforms. Radvision continued to develop its SCOPIA products and developer technologies, but in June 2012 Avaya acquired the company. The transaction ended Radvision's independent corporate and stock-market identity and transferred its collaboration business into Avaya. Radvision's technology assets later changed hands again. In July 2014, Spirent Communications acquired the Technology Business Unit from Avaya, after which it became Spirent's Developer Tools Business Unit. The transfer separated much of Radvision's developer-oriented legacy from the former company's enterprise video-conferencing identity. Radvision therefore no longer operates as an independent company, although its technologies and product heritage continued through successor businesses.

1. 2014Technology unit acquired by Spirent

   Spirent Communications acquired Radvision's Technology Business Unit from Avaya and renamed its organizational placement as part of Developer Tools.

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2. 2012Acquired by Avaya

   Avaya acquired Radvision in June, ending its status as an independent public company.

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3. 2010AETHRA assets and BEEHD

   Radvision acquired AETHRA assets, introduced the BEEHD framework, and expanded Microsoft Lync and high-definition hardware collaborations.

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4. 2007SCOPIA 3G Video Gateway

   Radvision introduced the SCOPIA 3G Video Gateway for video communications involving third-generation networks.

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5. 2006IMS and Microsoft-related initiatives

   Radvision adopted IMS technology, entered a Microsoft licensing arrangement, and began working with LifeSize on high-definition communications.

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6. 2005FVC.com acquisition

   The company acquired FVC.com and Click to Meet, expanding its workstation and collaboration software portfolio.

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7. 2004Visionex acquisition and developer expansion

   Radvision acquired Visionex and its IView management platform, while expanding its developer solutions for advanced processor and wireless applications.

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8. 2001SIP support and leadership transition

   Radvision added SIP support to its communications technology and Gadi Tamari succeeded Ami Amir as chief executive.

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9. 2000NASDAQ listing

   Radvision began trading on NASDAQ under the symbol RVSN and was also listed in Israel.

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10. 1998ECS gatekeeper introduced

    Radvision released an ECS gatekeeper for managing video-communications environments.

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11. 1996viaIP product family introduced

    Radvision launched its viaIP video-conferencing product line.

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12. 1994IP-to-ISDN video gateway

    The company introduced a gateway connecting IP and ISDN video networks.

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13. 1993IP video transmission technology

    Radvision developed technology for real-time video transfer over IP networks.

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14. 1992Company founded

    Ami Amir and Eli Doron founded Radvision in Israel to develop networked video-calling technology.

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Radvision positioned itself as both an enterprise video-collaboration supplier and an enabling-technology provider for companies developing IP communications products. Its differentiation came from combining standards-based protocol expertise, gateways and infrastructure, developer tools, and complete video-conferencing systems.

• SCOPIAVideo-conferencing and collaboration systems

  SCOPIA was Radvision's principal family of enterprise video-conferencing products. It covered infrastructure and room-oriented collaboration capabilities and was extended through gateways, management functions, and integrations with broader unified-communications environments. The portfolio represented Radvision's move from supplying protocol technology to delivering complete high-definition video solutions for organizations and service providers.

• viaIPIP video-conferencing systems1996

  The viaIP family was one of Radvision's early branded video-conferencing offerings. It applied the company's IP-video expertise to systems intended to support real-time communication over packet networks and helped establish Radvision as a supplier of practical IP-based conferencing products during the 1990s.

• ECSVideo-network gatekeeper1998

  ECS was Radvision's gatekeeper technology for managing video-conferencing endpoints and communications sessions. It belonged to the infrastructure layer of the company's portfolio, helping organizations control and coordinate IP video environments rather than functioning solely as an endpoint device.

• SCOPIA 3G Video GatewayMobile and network video gateway2007

  The SCOPIA 3G Video Gateway connected video-conferencing environments with third-generation mobile networks. Its introduction reflected Radvision's effort to extend enterprise video beyond fixed IP endpoints and to support interoperability between emerging mobile services and established conferencing infrastructure.

• Click to MeetDesktop collaboration software

  Click to Meet was collaboration software associated with FVC.com and acquired by Radvision in 2005. It expanded Radvision's offering toward workstation-based conferencing and complemented the company's infrastructure and room-system products.

• BEEHDVideo-communications client framework2010

  BEEHD was a framework for building advanced video-communications clients across desktop, embedded, and mobile devices. It illustrated Radvision's continuing focus on reusable developer technology alongside its branded conferencing systems.

• IViewVideo-management platform

  IView was a management platform obtained through Radvision's 2004 acquisition of Visionex. It strengthened the company's ability to provide administration and control capabilities for video-conferencing environments.

• 2014Sale of Technology Business Unit to SpirentM&A

  Avaya retained Radvision-related collaboration activities but sold the technology unit focused on developer tools and communications infrastructure.

  What changed. Spirent Communications acquired Radvision's Technology Business Unit in July 2014.

  Aftermath. The unit became Spirent's Developer Tools Business Unit, preserving parts of Radvision's enabling-technology heritage under a different corporate owner.

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• 2012Avaya acquisitionM&A

  Radvision operated across enterprise video conferencing, unified communications, and developer technology, while larger communications companies were consolidating the sector.

  What changed. Avaya acquired Radvision in June 2012.

  Aftermath. Radvision ceased to operate as an independent listed company and its collaboration activities became part of Avaya.

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• 2000Public-market listingOther

  Radvision sought public-market financing as IP communications and video conferencing developed into commercial technology categories.

  What changed. The company listed on NASDAQ under RVSN and also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

  Aftermath. The listing gave Radvision an independent public-company profile until Avaya acquired it in 2012.

  IPO proceeds and valuation. $76 million raised; approximately $380 million valuation (March 2000 IPO)

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• 1992Shift from personal-computer video calling to enabling technologyStrategy

  The founders' original concept targeted video calls between personal computers over organizational networks, but demand for that type of product was limited at the time.

  What changed. Radvision redirected its business toward software toolkits, protocol implementations, and infrastructure for developers of VoIP and video-communications equipment.

  Aftermath. The change became the foundation for Radvision's later developer-tools business and its parallel expansion into complete video-conferencing systems.

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• 2014Spirent acquires Radvision Technology Business Unit

  Spirent Communications acquired Radvision's Technology Business Unit from Avaya and incorporated it into Spirent's Developer Tools business.

  M&A
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• 2012Avaya acquires Radvision

  Avaya acquired Radvision, bringing its video-conferencing and collaboration activities into Avaya and ending Radvision's life as an independent listed company.

  M&A
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• 2000Radvision goes public on NASDAQ

  Radvision completed an initial public offering on NASDAQ under the ticker RVSN and was also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange during its independent-company period.

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1. Radvision