EMC offloads file-sharing business

Storage giant sells Syncplicity just three years after it bought it

EMC has sold off its file-sharing arm Syncplicity just three years after it snapped the business up, claiming the technology is no longer core to its portfolio.

Syncplicity provides enterprises with file-sharing technology that can store data either in the cloud or as part of a hybrid offering, depending on customers' preferences.

Private investment firm Skyview Capital has bought the business from EMC, although the latter will retain "a financial interest" in the company, although it did not disclose exactly what that would be.

EMC's president of products and marketing, Jeremy Burton, said his firm's salesforce will continue to sell Syncplicity tech as part of its EMC Select partner programme and will remain a large-scale customer.

He said the market has changed considerably since EMC grabbed the company, meaning the products are no longer core to the firm.

"The standalone EFSS [Enterprise File Sync and Share] market is evolving rapidly; customers are continually looking for new end-user features and functionality to enable their increasingly mobile workforce. This is a step away from EMC's core infrastructure strength.

"This move is designed to ensure that Syncplicity is adequately positioned for success in the evolving EFSS market and to enable EMC to increase our focus on core EMC Information Infrastructure investments."