Thursday, July 21, 2005

Microsoft Buys FrontBridge

Microsoft announced late yesterday that it is acquiring Marina Del Rey-based FrontBridge, a provider of email filtering services and tools. Microsoft said that it is acquiring FrontBridge for integration into its Microsoft Exchange Server Product Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. FrontBridge provides spam filtering, virus scanning, and message archiving to customers via a managed security service. Microsoft said that the move allows it to provide a comprehensive suite of managed services for customers to help ensure the security, compliance and availability of electronic messages. FrontBridge is venture backed by BA Venture Partners, Focus Ventures, Kummell Investments, Sierra Ventures, and Waitte Ventures, and was formerly known as Big Fish Communications. The company last raised a venture round of funding in August of 2004.