Microsoft partner Modality Systems acquired by UK-based GCI

One of Microsoft's biggest Skype for Business partners Modality Systems has been acquired by UK-based converged ICT services provider GCI.

The deal establishes a local presence for GCI through Modality’s Sydney office, as well as a North American presence through its Seattle office.

Modality Systems was founded in 2007 and landed in Australia in 2014 after a few years of doing business in the country. Justin Norris led the expansion as country manager, a role he held until July 2018, when he returned to work at Modality's headquarters at Hertfordshire, UK.

The company was a finalist in the 2018 CRN Impact Awards, with its Skype for Business PSTN Conferencing rollout for BAI Communications as its entry.

In 2017, Modality formed The Cloud Collective with two other Microsoft partners, IT consultants Antares Solutions and managed services provider Quorum, with the aim of addressing the gap in the mid-market as an end-to-end technology solutions provider.

The acquisition will expand GCI’s services offering, with Modality’s software technologies developed for Microsoft intelligent communications software and video conferencing services software complementing GCI’s unified communications offerings.

“The acquisition of Modality Systems provides GCI and its customers with established scale and support internationally,” GCI chief executive Adrian Thirkill said.

“Geographically, it expands the ability of the combined companies to service larger, global companies and additionally widens key new markets in the USA, Australia and Asia where Modality has already established sales and delivery capability for enterprise customers”.

GCI said the combined business aims to dominate the managed service market around Microsoft’s intelligent communications software, offering a suite of consultation, adoption and managed services globally.

“Both GCI and Modality have invested heavily in innovating around Microsoft’s collaboration suite and our combined global customers will benefit from a leading managed service company which is at the forefront of digital transformation,” Modality chief executive James Rodd said.

“We believe there is great potential given that Microsoft Teams alone is set to become the second-biggest workplace collaboration app by 2020, surpassing both Slack and Google Hangouts.”