To expand its mobile services, Facebook has acquired London-based apps developer for feature phones, Snaptu, for an estimated $70m.
This is the social networking site’s fourth acquisition this year and the first outside the US. Other acquisitions were mobile group messaging startup Beluga, a hyperlocal mobile ad startup Rel8tion, and "social" recruiting service Pursuit.
Last week, Facebook had hired a Google employee to lead its merger and acquisition efforts.
Snaptu is an application developer for feature phones, which have fewer capabilities than smartphones. Snaptu’s Java-based apps technology is designed to bring web service such as Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn to almost any phone.
Snaptu has confirmed the deal, which is expected to close in a few weeks, on its website.
Facebook spokesman Jonny Thaw declined to comment on the deals, but said, "As part of Facebook, Snaptu’s team and technology will enable us to deliver an even better mobile experience."
Facebook has more than 200 million mobile users across smartphones and feature handsets.
The deal, which will close in the next few weeks, was first reported in Israeli newspapers Calcalist and The Marker.
