NMS announces name change, new chief executive

NMS Communications Corp. announced plans today to sell its traditional enabling technology business, change its name, and appoint a new chief executive.

The Framingham firm said it has agreed to sell for roughly $28 million in cash a platform business that provides enabling tools and value-added services to Dialogic Corp., a Montreal-based company that provides open-systems platforms to the enterprise and service provider markets.

NMS said it is looking to focus on its LiveWire Mobile business, which brings a high level of personalization to mobile communications through a single, integrated storefront that delivers ringback, full-track music, ringtone, and video services.

As a result, NMS also announced today its intent to change its corporate name to LiveWire Mobile Inc.

When the sale to Dialogic closes, something expected to happen in the fourth quarter, NMS said that Joel Hughes will replace Bob Schechter as chief executive of the company

Schechter will continue serving on the board of directors as non-executive chairman, and it is anticipated that Mr. Hughes will be elected to the company's board of directors, the company said.

"Over the past year, we have taken steps to separate our LiveWire Mobile and NMS Communications Platforms businesses in order to sharpen the focus on and realize the value inherent in each," Schecter said in a statement. "We believe that the sale of the NMS Communications Platforms business paves the way to best drive long-term value creation for our employees, customers, and shareholders. Upon closing, 100 percent of our resources and focus will be dedicated to LiveWire Mobile, and the completion of this transaction will provide LiveWire Mobile with financial resources to execute its growth strategy."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)