14 DAY TRIAL // Dell is taking its business seriously this year and tries harder to climb the ladder to the top computer manufacturers and vendors. The last expansion move initiated by the Dell company is the acquisition of a small, entirely private firm named Zing Systems that is specialized in the making of always-connected audio and entertainment devices like portable media players and streaming audio technology.
Until very recently, Dell was not known as an expansionist company having made very few acquisitions in almost 20 years, but that trend suddenly ended when the company purchased in a matter of weeks two other firms - SilverBack Technologies and ASAP Software. According to Dell this shopping spree is a move to increase its market penetration and to expand its retail offerings and services and to solidify its Customer business. From the company's press release, it is clear that Dell "plans to use ZING and its capabilities to continue improving the entertainment experiences it provides its customers", but the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Dell already has an entire family of audio players and its also sells entertainment portable products and devices from different companies like Creative Technology, Samsung Electronics, Sony and Microsoft.
Zing Systems is specialized in audio technologies and it is currently licensing some of its technologies to companies like SanDisk and Sirius for their Sansa Connect and respectively Stiletto 100 products. According to David Frink, a spokesman for Dell, all of the 120 employees of the Zing Systems company are expected to be retained by Dell. "We're looking at companies that can expand our capability to provide great product experiences," said Frink. "We think this is a company that can provide a great technology and entertainment experience."