UNICOM® Global acquires Firetide® wireless network expert

Silicon Valley company is leading innovator in wireless mesh technology

MISSION HILLS, CA – May 19, 2014 – UNICOM Systems, Inc., a Division of UNICOM Global, today announced that it has acquired Firetide, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based company and leading expert on wireless broadband technology in an all cash transaction.  Details of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

“Firetide’s renowned AutoMesh™ wireless mesh software is a cost-effective and dynamic highbandwidth network solution providing the architectural foundation for artificial intelligence and robotics, critical infrastructure modernization, energy and water conservation and software-defined networking for cloud computing,” said Mr. Corry Hong, founder, president and CEO of UNICOM Global.  “U.S. military forces are using wireless mesh networking to connect their wearable computer nodes in field operations, and municipalities are deploying smart meters for residences to automatically transfer their readings to the central office for billing and analytics data without the need for human meter readers.  UNICOM is proud to bring such important wireless solutions to our customers.” 

“The Firetide organization is very excited to join as the newest division of UNICOM Global,” said Mr. John McCool, CEO of Firetide. “UNICOM has demonstrated amazing growth and impressive leadership, and Firetide’s industry-leading products combined with UNICOM’s breadth of solutions and reach into the U.S. Federal government, SLED and commercial enterprises are a combination for great success.”

Founded in 2002, Firetide has more than 10,000 government and commercial customers in 40 countries around the world, including providing solutions for Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit, the City of Chicago, and video security at the 2013 ING New York City Marathon.  Firetide and UNICOM Government, Inc., a division of UNICOM Global, recently partnered to deploy a video surveillance network for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, as part of its citywide Intelligent Transportation System.  Firetide’s patented AutoMesh™ technology enables concurrent video, voice and data applications for government, transportation, education and commercial customers to view live, high-bandwidth video feeds reliably, securely and with low latency.  Firetide’s products are used to build private wireless mesh infrastructure and access networks for indoor and outdoor use that are highly reliable and secure. 

The Firetide transaction represents the second acquisition of a Silicon Valley-based company by UNICOM in the last 60 days. On March 31, 2014, UNICOM acquired the assets of Memeo, Inc., a cloud-based secure file sharing and data protection company. 

Firetide is based in Campbell, California, with operations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific regions.  Following the close of the acquisition, UNICOM Global will work to integrate Firetide’s products throughout UNICOM’s extensive distribution channels including through its UNICOM Government, UNICOM Engineering and USRobotics divisions.