It has bought 13 companies in the past 12 months. LocusOne produced the logistics system behind the Office Depot contract, an area in which Aether wasn't established before. In buying LocusOne, Aether also gained a competent sales force, a group of wireless engineers, and a major customer in a new industry. Davis expects Aether to make as many as 12 to 15 acquisitions over the next 12 months as it starts increasing its market share and acquiring customers. Aether has already shown a knack for building revenue.
Profitability is another matter.
Thanks to Aether's aggressive acquisition strategy, the company isn't forecasting a date for when it will turn profitable. But if Aether Systems spends its money wisely, builds its market share, and makes its software the de facto standard for managing wireless networks, its long-term future could be very profitable. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.