WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp.'s $1.26 billion purchase of Visio Corp., a developer of design and drawing software, received U.S. Justice Department antitrust clearance, Visio said today.
Microsoft's purchase of Visio, announced in September, is the largest acquisition by the world's biggest software maker. Seattle-based Visio said it has more than 3.5 million users.Microsoft said it hopes Visio will boost its product line, which it plans to rent over the Internet to compete with Sun Microsystems Inc. Many firms use Visio software as their standard drawing software.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft is facing an unrelated antitrust case filed by the U.S. Justice Department over its dominance of the market for operating software that runs PCs. A federal judge ruled in November that Microsoft has abused its monopoly power in the computer operating systems market to crush competition and stifle innovation. Microsoft has denied anti-competitive practices.
The judge has appointed a mediator to encourage a settlement.