Seagate Technology, the world’s leading hard drive company, announced the acquisition of Mirra, Inc., a leading provider of networked digital content protection products for the home and small business markets. Effective immediately, Mirra, Inc. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Seagate Technology.

“The creation and value of personal digital content is dramatically increasing as people acquire new digital devices and deploy home networks,” said Brian Dexheimer, Seagate executive vice president, Storage Business. “Mirra’s groundbreaking software and services protect and manage this data by providing simplified backup, device synchronization and remote access to digital files and networked devices. Mirra is a perfect strategic fit for Seagate as we look to extend our branded offerings and to deliver simple, reliable consumer solutions for safeguarding, sharing and accessing the consumer’s digital life.”

“By bringing Mirra’s innovative software and services talent together with Seagate’s hardware expertise, global resources and world-class brand, we will set the stage for significant growth in value-added branded products,” said Tom Shea, Mirra’s chief executive officer. “Together, we will change the way consumers protect, store and access their digital content.”

The rapid adoption of digital devices by consumers and small business professionals have set the stage for emerging opportunities centered on management of digital files, email, photos, videos and other personal content: on average 30% annual growth of broadband in homes over the last four years, with over 41.7* million networked households today; 56% of Internet broadband households with digital still cameras and 62% with digital video cameras. Other market drivers indicate the need for intelligent digital content management systems: 93% of broadband users have digital still photos on their PC hard drive and 46% have digital video, plus 70%* have digital music files also stored on their hard drive.

Mirra products eliminate the complexity of managing valuable documents across multiple PCs by integrating PC software, Web services, and an intelligent “always-on” network appliance into an all-in-one content protection solution. Mirra provides continuous backup of data from multiple PCs, free secure online remote access and file sharing, and automatic file synchronization across networked computers. Mirra, and the Mirra Personal Server, have won numerous awards such as “Product of the Year” from Morningstar Advisor, “Editors Choice” from American PHOTO magazine, “Technology Innovation Award” from CPA Technology Advisor, “Top 10 Startups” from NetworkWorld, “Rookie of the Year” from MobilTrax, “DEMOgod Award” from DEMOmobile, and the “AlwaysOn100 Award” from AlwaysOn.