Hands-On Mobile loses a thumb

May 30th, 2007

A year ago, Hands-On Mobile bought Bellevue-based Thumbspeed.

Hands-On, which used to be called mForma, was once also based in Bellevue and is now in San Francisco. It publishes games and other content for mobile phones.

Thumbspeed joined Hands-On to operate the messaging and communications group within the company. It develops and publishes messaging, photo-sharing and personalization applications for mobile phones and smart devices. The company, founded in 2004, has a research and development facility in Mumbai, India.

Today, Montreal-based OZ, which develops a consumer mobile e-mail application, said it acquired Thumbspeed from Hands-On Mobile for an undisclosed amount.

“This acquisition is designed to leverage the strengths of both companies,” said Hank Skorny, Thumbspeed president and CEO. “This acquisition means accelerated growth for Thumbspeed, more solutions for our customers and even brighter futures for our employees. Together, OZ and Thumbspeed will deliver products and services that drive growth and innovation; thus enabling our partners and customers to empower their subscribers to do more with mobile messaging.”

OZ said together the two will deliver mobile messaging products wireless carirers and handset manufacturers want, faster product innovation and the ability to roll it out to the market quickly.

“Joining forces with Thumbspeed will allow OZ to fulfill our vision: to give consumers what they want — easy and affordable access to their existing and favorite IM, e-mail and social networking services on their mobile phones,” said OZ CEO Skuli Mogensen. “As consumers expect and demand more from their mobile phone, together, we will fulfill this demand with easy to use mobile clients, and offer a unique integrated messaging experience that includes next generation SMS, IM, e-mail and social networking with rich-media and personalization capabilities.”

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Entry Filed under: Mobile Phones