Raytheon acquires BBN Technologies, firm that developed Internet, e-mail, VoIP

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, according to the release.

BBN's portfolio encompasses technologies including advanced networking, speech and language technologies, information technologies, sensor systems, and cybersecurity.

Some of BBN's notable developments in the field of computer networks include ARPANET, the first person-to-person network email sent (and first use of the "@" symbol), the first Internet protocol router, an early predecessor of voice over IP called "Voice Funnel"; and work on the development of TCP.

BBN also invented the first time-sharing system, the LOGO programming language, the TOPS-20 (TENEX) operating system, the Colossal Cave Adventure game, the first link-state routing protocol and a series of mobile ad-hoc networks.

The firm known for its parallel computing systems, including the Pluribus and BBN Butterfly computers, which have been used for such tasks as warfare simulation for the U.S. Navy.

[See BBN's innovation timeline here]

The acquisition brings a number of BBN offerings into Raytheon's stable, such as the Boomerang acoustic-based shooter detection system currently deployed with US. forces and mission-critical technology development programs for defense and intelligence clients.