Editing Webex (section)

== History ==

WebEx Communications, Inc., was founded in 1995<ref name=Cisco20070315/> by [[Subrah Iyar]] and [[Min Zhu (entrepreneur)|Min Zhu]]. It had its [[initial public offering]] in July 2000.<ref name=Cisco20070315>{{cite web |url= https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=3080774 |title=Cisco announces agreement to acquire WebEx |date=March 15, 2007 |publisher=Cisco |access-date=June 7, 2020}}</ref> WebEx was listed on the [[NASDAQ]] National Market, and then the NASDAQ Global Select Market, when that was introduced in 2006.<ref name="pressrelease2006-06-27">{{cite press release |url= http://www.webex.com/pr/pr409.html |title=WebEx selected for new NASDAQ Global Select Market |date=June 27, 2006 |publisher=WebEx |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061109071156/http://www.webex.com/pr/pr409.html |archive-date=November 9, 2006}}</ref>

The company acquired ''Intranets.com'' in 2005, providing entrance into the small- and mid-size business market through the company's customer base of businesses with fewer than 100 employees. It acquired the ability to offer online collaboration tools such as [[Internet forum|discussion forums]], document sharing and calendaring while Intranets.com provided access to the Webex communications environment for its customers.<ref>Solhein, Shelley (August 8, 2005). "Webex tools get Intranets infusion". ''eweek''.</ref>

In May 2007, Cisco acquired WebEx for $3.2 billion.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2007/05/29/1272059/0/en/Cisco-Completes-Acquisition-of-WebEx.html | title=Cisco Completes Acquisition of WebEx | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=May 29, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/1470724/cisco-completes-3-2b-webex-acquisition.html | title=Cisco completes $3.2B WebEx acquisition | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=May 30, 2007}}</ref>

At the time of the acquisition, all Webex [[Application software|applications]] were built on the MediaTone platform and supported by the Webex MediaTone Network (originally called the Webex interactive network),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718012645/http://developer.webex.com/c/document_library/get_file?groupId=10465&folderId=11420&name=DLFE-226.pdf Cisco DevNet]. Developer.webex.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-27.</ref> a global network intended for use with on-demand programs. The network was designed by Shaun Bryant, Webex's Chief Network Architect,<ref>http://entreprise.jigsaw.com/id70704_d80/webex_communications_inc_it_is_business_contacts.xhtml{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and Zaid Ali Sr, Network Architect, to be one of the first [[SaaS]] platforms on the Internet.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In July 2006, [[AOL]] and Webex launched a business version of AOL's [[instant messaging]] software, [[AOL Instant Messenger|AIM Pro]], with additional features to help workers collaborate using conferencing tools offered by Webex.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 July 2006|title=AOL Launches AIM Pro Service|url=https://www.eweek.com/enterprise-apps/aol-launches-aim-pro-service|access-date=2 October 2020|website=eWeek}}</ref>

On September 26, 2006, the company announced plans to offer a web collaboration "mashup" platform called "Webex Connect".<ref name="webexconnect">{{cite web |url=http://www.webex.com/partners/webex-connect.html |title=Webex is expanding from connecting people to connecting process and applications in real time |website=Webex |access-date=2018-11-09 |archive-date=February 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226175257/http://www.webex.com/partners/webex-connect.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On November 17, 2014, Cisco announced an evolution of Webex called Project Squared.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/17/ciscos-new-project-squared-collaboration-tool-gives-webex-a-run-for-its-money |title=Cisco's New Project Squared Collaboration Tool Offers Modern Alternative To Aging Webex |website=TechCrunch |date=2014-11-17 |access-date=2018-11-09}}</ref> On March 17, 2015 this effort was re-branded as Cisco Spark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eweek.com/networking/cisco-re-brands-project-squared-collaboration-effort-as-spark |title=Cisco Re-brands Project Squared Collaboration Effort as Spark |website=e-Week |date=2015-03-17 |access-date=2020-09-03}}</ref>

On April 18, 2018, Cisco announced that Cisco Spark would be combined into the Cisco Webex platform. On this same date, Cisco rebranded all of the rest of their Spark products to Webex, including the Spark Room Kit—now Webex Room Kit—and Spark Board—now Webex Board.<ref>[http://www.videocentric.co.uk/news/cisco-turns-spark-webex-teams/ "Cisco Turns their Spark into Webex Teams"], ''[[VideoCentric]]'', Reading, Berkshire, 25 April 2018.</ref>

On May 15, 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Cisco CFO Kelly Kramer reported in the month of April 2020, they had 500 million meeting attendees, and that equated to 25 billion meeting minutes, using its video-conferencing application Webex.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/cisco-boasts-amazing-takeup-of-web-ex-as-lockeddown-users-flock-to-video-conferencing-175343698.html |title= Cisco boasts 'amazing takeup' of Webex as locked-down users flock to video conferencing |work= Yahoo Finance | date=May 15, 2020}}</ref>

In September 2020, Cisco launched a new platform Webex Classrooms for virtual homeroom encounters.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 September 2020|title=Cisco debuts Webex Classrooms|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/cisco-debuts-webex-classrooms/ar-BB18Bira|access-date=2 October 2020|website=msn news}}</ref>

On October 26, 2021, Cisco launched an update aimed to enhance virtual and hybrid in-person meetings and events, using AI-powered technology for their Webex portfolio.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-10-26|title=Cisco launches new AI-powered and hybrid event features for Webex|url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/10/26/cisco-launches-new-ai-powered-and-hybrid-event-features-for-webex/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2024, Cisco and [[Tata Communications]] partnered to launch Webex Calling in India. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cisco Webex |url=https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/cisco-and-tata-communications-partner-to-launch-webex-calling-in-india-124052201122_1.html}}</ref>