F5 Networks software revenue jumps 43%, as CEO offers vision for applications as ‘living organisms’

F5 Networks continued to benefit from its expansion into software and services, boosting revenue by 4% overall to $586 million, including 43% growth in software revenue, beating Wall Street’s expectations for its fiscal third quarter, ended June 30.

Now the Seattle-based networking and security technology company is looking to the next phase of its evolution.

In an unusual move, F5 CEO François Locoh-Donou spent nearly 15 minutes of the company’s quarterly earnings call Monday afternoon presenting analysts and investors with F5’s vision for “adaptive applications,” and its strategy to help enable them in the years ahead.

“We see a future where an application, like a living organism, will naturally adapt based on the environment,” Locoh-Donou said. “computer science vs computer engineering, shrink, defend and heal itself as needed. The combination of application services, telemetry and automation will enable it to become an adaptive application. Ultimately, adaptive applications will deliver increased revenue, reduced costs and better protection for application owners.”