PostPath

About PostPath

PostPath, Inc. operated as a software developer focused on enterprise email and collaboration solutions. Initially founded in 2003 as Apptran Software, Inc., the company rebranded to PostPath in 2006. It was headquartered in Mountain View, California, with development operations in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The company's core offering was the PostPath Server, a Linux-based email and collaboration platform designed as a direct, drop-in replacement for Microsoft Exchange. This was a significant technical differentiator, as PostPath reverse-engineered Exchange's protocols, allowing it to appear as a native Exchange server to tools like Microsoft Outlook and Active Directory. This strategy aimed to provide a seamless migration path for businesses looking for a more cost-effective and flexible alternative to Exchange, claiming licensing costs could be around one-fourth of a typical Exchange installation. The product suite also included PostPath WebMail, which provided AJAX-based browser access to email, calendar, and contacts, and administrative tools for configuration. The target market included a range of businesses, from small companies to large enterprises, seeking to reduce the complexities and costs associated with Microsoft's ecosystem.

PostPath's trajectory culminated in a strategic acquisition by Cisco Systems. The definitive agreement was announced in August 2008, and the acquisition was completed in September 2008 for approximately $215 million. Following the acquisition, PostPath's team and technology were integrated into Cisco's Collaboration Software Group. The primary goal was to enhance the email and calendaring capabilities of Cisco's WebEx Connect collaboration platform, expanding its software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings which already included messaging, voice, video, and document management.