San Francisco-based iSkoot, which provides carrier-friendly mobile VoIP solutions, has acquired Social.IM for its social network IM client. The acquisition positions iSkoot to grow beyond mobile VoIP. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Social.IM built a customizable desktop application and Web service that adds real-time communication and desktop notifications for social networks, online communities, and Web sites. The technology includes a desktop IM client and also the capability to deliver new message alerts, information, and content to social network or online community members. Social.IM also released a developer API that allows for social network application developers to reach their users on desktop.
“Social.IM has served as an instant Web communications desktop platform and we see a clear consumer integration with iSkoot’s upcoming suite of Web to mobile push services,” said Mark Jacobstein, iSkoot CEO. “Acquiring Social.IM is a key step in our path to introduce later this year a groundbreaking new communications platform that will revolutionize the mobile landscape.”http://www.iskoot.com
- Earlier this year, iSkoot hired CEO Mark Jacobstein, who played key roles at Digital Chocolate and Loopt.
- Also, Skype and iSkoot announced a new five-year agreement. As part of the deal, iSkoot received for the first time the exclusive rights to offer the Skype mobile services though carrier partners in eight countries.
- iSkoot launched its carrier-grade, carrier-deployed Skype-for-Mobile application in 2006, and now powers the Skypephone, which currently sold in eight countries on three continents.