DeskStream Inc., a leading provider of desktop virtualisation software, has today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire a prominent Northern Irish start-up in the cloud computing and virtualisation software space. DeskStream, with development centres in California, U.S.A., and Hyderabad, India, will acquire Belfast-based start-up, WorldDesk Ltd. The deal was announced at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The financial terms of the deal, which will close in the first quarter of 2012, have not been disclosed but the acquisition will see DeskStream adopt the WorldDesk name and branding with immediate effect.

With the acquisition of WorldDesk, DeskStream will take control of a unique cloud-based workspace delivery platform prototype built on Dropbox but is capable of being extended to leverage other cloud storage providers. DeskStream will also add customer support services, marketing expertise and additional software development capabilities. The deal will see the employees of WorldDesk, including co-founders Jonathan Chesney and Claire Moore, join DeskStream. WorldDesk, founded in 2010, will continue to be based in Belfast.

Speaking following the announcement, DeskStream CEO, Rao Cherukuri, commented: "We are delighted with today's announcement and the addition of WorldDesk to the DeskStream family. The combination of DeskStream's thin client technology and the work WorldDesk has done on the management and delivery of workspaces from the cloud has the potential to transform the mobile computing market.

"This acquisition speaks to the strength of our business and the sector as a whole. We are already experiencing a sea change in how people view cloud computing and desktop virtualisation. The acquisition of WorldDesk will help us to capitalise on the opportunities that result from this."

Speaking following the announcement, WorldDesk co-founders, Jonathan Chesney and Claire Moore, said: "We established WorldDesk in effort to revolutionise how organisations, individuals and, in particular, schools use computers. We wanted to fundamentally alter the norm of how people think of, and use, their computer desktop. DeskStream shares this vision and has placed a great deal of confidence in our mission. We are delighted with today's announcement and we look forward to taking WorldDesk to the next level."