Wmode, a managed-services provider of mobile Internet services to operators, has acquired a B2B mobile app development and services firm Widality. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The company said that the acquisition is to capitalise on the growing smartphone application opportunity.

The new business group will provide application lifecycle management services that enable app providers developing on Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian and Windows Phone 7 to reach their target audience in new ways.

Wmode delivers browser-based mobile data offerings, while Widality is a developer of momentem, which is a business apps for BlackBerry smartphones with users in 116 countries.

Widality will become the mobile app services group within Wmode responsible for growing revenues outside of Wmode’s operator services business.

Wmode said that it will increase investment in the momentem service and adopt BlackBerry Application Platform such as super app capabilities, multi-language packages, and multiple platforms including support for the new BlackBerry 6.0 operating system.

Widality president Terry Hughes said that the monetisation of apps is about to happen on a large scale and some serious players are looking to be successful in the app market.

"Wmode’s pedigree and our real-world experience of rolling out apps make us the ideal team to help companies across the value chain profit from the app revolution," Hughes said.