Nokia buys Novarra to gain edge in mobile browsers

26 Mar 2010

Mobile phone giant Nokia has acquired 100pc of outstanding shares of Novarra, a US provider of mobile browser and service platforms. Nokia says the move is vital to connecting the next 1bn people to the web.

Novarra’s mobile browser and services platform will be used by Nokia to deliver enhanced internet experiences on Nokia mobile devices.

Novarra, which employs 100 people, has deployed its solution with leading mobile operator and internet services customers globally.

“Connecting the next billion consumers to the internet will happen primarily on mobile devices and delivering an optimised internet experience on our devices is core to our mission,” said Niklas Savander, executive vice-president, Services, Nokia.

“By driving innovation in all segments of our portfolio, we are building one of the largest consumer audiences for web services and content. Novarra’s internet services technology delivered on the world’s most widely-used mobile platform, Nokia’s Series 40, will help us achieve this.”

Nokia expects a new service offering utilising the Novarra technology platform to be available later this year.

The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2010, and is subject to the customary closing conditions, including regulatory reviews. Following the acquisition, Novarra will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nokia.

By John Kennedy

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com