Major Software Makers Invest in VXtreme

Cisco Systems Inc., Informix Software Inc. and Japan’s Softbank Corp. paid about $10 million for a minority equity stake in VXtreme Inc. of Palo Alto. Closely held VXtreme makes software that lets computer users see videos directly from the Internet, rather than having to copy the videos to their computers. Companies can use VXtreme’s video software for videoconferencing and for broadcasting events. San Jose-based Cisco and VXtreme are working to make VXtreme’s software compatible with Cisco products that route data across computer networks. Softbank’s Comdex unit is working to use the VXtreme software to broadcast some computer trade show events over the World Wide Web. Menlo Park-based Informix plans to include VXtreme’s software in its database products.