NewBay Software, the Dublin-based provider of mobile media services, has announced the acquisition of InAMobile Ltd, a UK developer of handset applications, for an undisclosed sum.
NewBay said the deal would enhance its technology product range and customer base. Under the terms of the agreement, NewBay is to acquire the assets of InAMobile Ltd and all InAMobile staff will immediately transfer to work with NewBay Software. InAMobile was established in 2003 and is privately held. Its head office is in London.
According to NewBay, the combination of its FoneBlog mobile blogging and multimedia album with InAMobile’s Pixota handset applications will let users capture, store and share pictures taken with camera phones.
The Pixota client software prompts users to send images to a blog or to another person immediately after a picture has been taken. NewBay claimed that this feature increases the rate of picture messaging by up to 20 times.
InAMobile’s mobile-imaging products have been deployed by leading mobile operators including Orange, Vodafone, O2 and Carphone Warehouse. The company also has an established network of print partners through alliances with HP and Kodak, as well as Tier 1 developer relations with handset manufacturers including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola.
Paddy Holahan, CEO of NewBay Software, said that the addition of InAMobile’s “world-class” handset and mobile-imaging technology would enhance the company’s offerings for mobile operators. He added that the deal would help NewBay to capture a greater share of the mobile services market.
By Gordon Smith