Synchronica buys instant messaging business

2nd Feb 2011 12:59

Mobile messaging solutions provider Synchronica is paying $0.25m for the instant messaging business of US firm Neustar.Synchronica will acquire the Neustar NGM customer base, its patented technology, 11 contracts with Tier-1 and Tier-2 mobile network operators (MNOs) and two contracts with Tier-1 device manufacturers that are using Neustar MIM (Mobile Instant Messaging) to provide instant messaging services to end users.The acquired contracts include Vodafone and Optimus (Portugal), SFR (France), Globe (Philipines), TIM (Italy) , Turkcell (Turkey), Hutchinson 3 (Hong Kong), Vimpelcom and MegaFon (Russia). David Johnson, analyst at Northland Capital, said: "Synchronica has further strengthened its market position with the acquisition - adding another 11 MNOs and 2 device manufacturers - and removed a competitor.""The acquisition provides Synchronica access to a number of large and European MNOs, an area where the company has been historically under-represented, as well as a product set and patented technology," Johnson added.Synchronica intends to continue to support Neustar NGM's open standards-based instant messaging technology and plans to integrate key elements of the software into Synchronica's Mobile Gateway product line. To existing customers, Synchronica will propose a roadmap and a transition to using Synchronica Mobile Gateway, extending the range of services from instant messaging to push email, synchronisation and social networking.