LogMeIn To Buy Applied Networking, VPN Expertise

LogMeIn, a provider of remote access and support services, is buying Applied Networking a specialist in "instant" VPN services.

Terms of the deal, to be announced next week, are not known.

Applied Networking's Hamachi VPN service enables VARs or users to quickly set upand take down-- a secure network of computers and share access and information. The service, which the company says can be set up in a minute and requires no firewalls, has been available for two years and claims more than three million users.

Likewise, Woburn, Mass.-based LogMeIn claims three million users. LogMeIn was previously known as 3am Labs.

Once the computers are connected, VARs can use LogMeIn to remotely manage and administer customer PCs. The company offers free remote services as well as more sophisitated fee-based offerings. LogMeIn Pro provides remote to local printing and file share wile LogMeIn IT Reach adds monitoring and alerts.

LogMeIn Rescue lets IT pros set up ad hoc access to troubled machines for help desk support and other applications. The Hamachi piece would also provide secure always-connected access to machines needing it.

Hamachi is a cross platform product. LogMeIn can be used from a PC running any operating system but thus far can only access and manage Windows machines. Linux and Mac support are in the works, the company has said.

VARs supporting an array of smaller businesses use remote management and support tools to do hands-on monitoring and maintenance while cutting back on travel.