Webex

Webex by Cisco
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Web conferencing, videoconferencing, contact center as a service (CCaaS)
Predecessor	WebEx Communications, Inc.
Founded	1995; 31 years ago
Founder	Subrah Iyar, Min Zhu
Fate	Acquired by Cisco Systems
Headquarters	San Jose, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Webex App, Webex Suite, Webex Meetings, Webex Messaging, Webex Calling, Webex Contact Center, Webex Devices
Parent	Cisco Systems

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Webex, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 2025

Webex by Cisco operates as a U.S.-based subsidiary under Cisco Systems, focusing on solutions for web conferencing, videoconferencing, and contact center as a service (CCaaS). Originally established in 1995 as WebEx Communications, Inc. by entrepreneurs Subrah Iyar and Min Zhu, the company was acquired by Cisco Systems in May 2007. Its headquarters are located in San Jose, California.

The product lineup features offerings such as Webex App, Webex Suite, Webex Meetings, Webex Messaging, Webex Calling, Webex Contact Center, and Webex Devices—all integral components of Cisco’s collaboration technology portfolio.

History

WebEx Communications made its stock market debut in July 2000 on the NASDAQ National Market, later advancing to the NASDAQ Global Select Market in 2006. In 2005, the company broadened its reach into the small and medium business sector by purchasing Intranets.com, thereby acquiring tools for online collaboration including discussion boards and document sharing capabilities.

In May 2007, Cisco acquired WebEx for $3.2 billion, incorporating its suite of applications built upon the MediaTone platform and supported by the Webex MediaTone Network—a SaaS infrastructure tailored for on-demand services.

In 2006, Webex collaborated with AOL to release AIM Pro, a corporate edition of AOL Instant Messenger enhanced with integrated Webex conferencing functionality. Later that year, the company introduced "Webex Connect," a web collaboration platform designed to unify real-time applications and workflows.

Cisco has rebranded Webex multiple times: initially launching Project Squared in 2014, which was renamed Cisco Spark in 2015; by 2018, all Spark products were consolidated back into the Webex brand, streamlining Cisco’s collaboration offerings.

During the COVID-19 crisis in April 2020, Cisco reported that Webex hosted 500 million meeting participants with a total of 25 billion meeting minutes logged, highlighting substantial growth and market penetration.

In September 2020, Cisco unveiled Webex Classrooms to facilitate remote learning environments. By October 2021, AI-driven features were introduced across the Webex suite to enhance virtual and hybrid meeting experiences.

Most recently, in May 2024, Cisco expanded its global footprint by partnering with Tata Communications to bring Webex Calling to India, strengthening its position in unified communications worldwide.

Services

WebEx Connect offers customizable communication workflows tailored for customer relationship management (CRM), integrating various plug-ins that connect with widely used messaging and social media platforms.

Discontinued services include AIM Pro—a business-focused version of AOL Instant Messenger that incorporated advanced collaboration capabilities through Webex conferencing tools.

Related acquisitions by Cisco

In October 2020, Cisco acquired BabbleLabs to bolster the technological capabilities of the Webex platform.

By February 2021, Cisco had completed its acquisition of imimobile, a communications platform as a service (CPaaS) provider, further enhancing its portfolio within the Webex collaboration ecosystem.

Goldman Sachs securities fraud investigation

Goldman Sachs was subject to investigations by the SEC and various state authorities concerning securities fraud connected to their research coverage of Webex, as well as violations related to IPO activities between 1999 and 2001. The allegations involved claims that Webex's management exerted influence over analysts' reports; however, Webex asserted that the information provided was accurate. Additionally, the charges included accusations of improper share distribution during Webex's initial public offering.

Raindance patent infringement dispute

In 2005, Webex and its rival Raindance Communications initiated reciprocal patent infringement lawsuits seeking monetary damages and injunctions. The conflict was resolved in 2006 through settlements that involved case dismissals, mutual licensing agreements, and financial compensation, including a $1 million payment from Raindance to Webex.

External links