Alcatel to Buy Internet Devices

French telecommunications company Alcatel said it has a definitive agreement to buy private company Internet Devices Inc. for about $180 million in cash, in its latest purchase of U.S. Internet companies. Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Internet Devices, employs 70 people, most of them research and development engineers. Alcatel has been buying up U.S.-based Internet companies to extend its product range. Earlier this year it acquired start-up Internet firm Assured Access Technology and Internet equipment-maker Xylan Corp. as part of that strategy.