Mobile apps news roundup: Opera mobile acquisition, Samsung's cheap smartphone and more

Opera acquires Skyfire for $155M -- Internet browser maker Opera announced that it has acquired Skyfire Labs, a leader in mobile video optimization and cloud solutions for mobility. Skyfire is known for its Rocket Optimizer software which allows mobile operators to leverage cloud computing to optimize video and other media on crowded cell towers, including 3G and 4G LTE networks. Opera will add Skyfire’s video-optimization and smartphone monetization products to its operator business unit. GoDaddy Acquires M.dot -- Internet domain registrar and web hosting company Go Daddy announced it acquired mobile-optimized website creating app M.dot. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Samsung reveals Rex series smart feature phones -- Samsung today announced the launch of Rex, a new type of affordable feature phones with some smart phone functionality. So far Samsung has said that the phone will feature Java apps for Twitter Facebook and Gtalk. The Rex series sounds a lot like the cheaper iPhone rumors that we’ve heard about recently. You can read more about the Rex series here. Verve Mobile Secures $14M in Series C Funding -- Location-based mobile advertising company Verve announce it has closed its Series C round of funding at $14 million. The round was led by Nokia Growth Partners with participation from new investor Qualcomm and Series B lead investor BlueRun Ventures. The new funds will be used to develop and expand the company’s existing products and grow its marketing and sales capabilities. Yahoo CEO plans to cut most of its mobile apps -- Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said she want to cut most of the company’s mobile apps, from 60 to 12, Business Insider reports. Mayer made the announcement during the Goldman Sachs technology and Internet conference in San Francisco. The Pokémon company launches Pokémon TV app -- The Pokémon Company announced the launch of its Pokémon TV app for iTunes App Store and Google Play. The app allows users to watch a limited amount of episodes of the animated Pokémon show. EA Announces Tetris Blitz for Apple and Android Devices -- The faster, “Blitz” version of the puzzle classic will also be its first official freemium edition. The game is available to download from the iTunes App Store and Google Play. Skype adds video messaging to iOS, Android -- Skype started rolling out video messaging to it’s iOS, Android and Mac apps in the U.S. and U.K. Interestingly, there is no word on when the service will be added to the Windows platform, despite Skype being owned by Microsoft since 2011. DeNA signs developers to its Mobage platform -- Japanese game developer and publisher announced it has signed four new developers who will launch their games on DeNA’s Mobage platform. The developers are Machineworks Northwest, Grab Games, 4PLAT, and Oktagon Games. DeNA also announced the launch of two new third-party games, 777 Slots from Grab Games and Viral Collapse from Oktagon Games.

Social Pro Daily

Mobile apps news roundup: Opera mobile acquisition, Samsung's cheap smartphone and more

Emanuel Maiberg

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Emanuel Maiberg