Telephony provider Blueface said it will expand into the Italian market after it acquired business cloud telephony provider Kebu.

The service will target small to medium sized enterprise, large businesses and the Italian high-tech start-up industry.

The move is expected to create further jobs at the Dublin office, where some support and finance functions for the new expansion will be based. The bulk of Blueface's Italian operations will be based in Rome, with plans to open further offices in Florence and Milan in the first quarter of next year.

The expansion is the result of months of planning for the Irish-based firm, and the acquisition of Kebu would provide local knowledge essential for the initial push to get Blueface Italy into the market.

Blueface CEO Alan Foy said services would be rolled out in Italy over the next 12 months, with further European expansion on the cards as the company examines other potential markets for its cloud-based telephony services.