Back in the day before smartphones had phones in them and were generically called PDAs, usually Palm Pilot or Pocket
PC, two of the places that you could pick up
software for them were
PocketGear and
Handango. Well, PDAs got a lot smarter, we now call them BlackBerrys, iPhones, and Android
devices, and we usually buy software from the branded stores run by the manufacturer of our device.
PocketGear and Handango are still around, and in an effort to get
back into the mobile application game, PocketGear has acquired Handango
creating the worlds largest cross platform, open app store.
PocketGear’s App Store supports 2,000+ mobile devices and every
major OS platform, connecting consumers in 175+ countries with 140,000+
paid and free titles
Durham, NC — February 23, 2010 — PocketGear, Inc.
today announced the acquisition of Handango, the leading provider of
smartphone applications globally, creating the world’s largest cross
platform, open app store and content marketplace with a catalog of more
than 140,000 paid and free titles that are available for discovery and
download by the more than 4 billion consumers worldwide using Android©,
Symbian OS©, BlackBerry©, Windows Mobile©, Palm©, Linux, and Java©
powered mobile devices. PocketGear and Handango are the two largest
independent app stores and combined to date have generated over $400
million in mobile application revenues from customers living in more
than 175 countries and using over 2,000 unique mobile devices.
With the acquisition, PocketGear’s mobile app marketplace has been
expanded to connect more than 32,000 developers in the PocketGear
Developer Program with over 40 PocketGear-powered storefront and
distribution partners, including 4 of the world’s top 5 handset
manufacturers, 4 of the top 5 mobile operators in the US, 3 of the top
10 mobile operators globally, and leading media and ecommerce companies
including Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Research in Motion, Microsoft,
T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless. The reach of PocketGear’s
direct to consumer app stores has also expanded to include the largest
independent app store, Handango.com, joining PocketGear?s app store
network that includes PocketGear.com, Mobile2Day.de, SymbianGear.com,
AndroidGear.com, RIMGear.com, Smartphone.net, and PalmGear.com. In
addition, more than 1,000 app developers are now using PocketGear’s
developer storefront solutions to market and sell their mobile apps
directly to consumers from their own websites and other marketing
channels.
Upon closing, Jud Bowman will remain as President and CEO of
PocketGear and Alex Bloom, current chief executive of Handango, will
become Chief Operating Officer of PocketGear.
“Our vision is to facilitate an open app store ecosystem that
supports every mobile device, every application, and every carrier
network globally,” said Jud Bowman, President and CEO of PocketGear.
“By combining the two largest independent app store companies, we’re
creating significantly more scale and value for all of the stakeholders
in the open app store ecosystem.”
Bowman added, “Handset manufacturers, carriers, and media companies
now have a single marketplace where they can quickly and easily connect
with developers, source a catalog of apps developed specifically for
their supported devices, and create a branded, revenue generating
storefront and app discovery engine that works across all devices,
platforms, geographies, and carrier networks.”
“This is an exciting time in the app store market and we’re thrilled
to be joining forces with PocketGear,” said Alex Bloom, CEO of
Handango. “As we increase our scale, not only can we further accelerate
speed to market of new devices and applications in a rapidly changing
marketplace, but we’re also better positioned to help our distribution
and developer partners increase the overall revenues per download from
both paid and free apps.”
PocketGear was represented in this transaction by Kip Johnson of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC.
About PocketGear, Inc.
PocketGear is the world’s largest cross platform, open app store and
content marketplace with a catalog of more than 140,000 paid and free
titles available for discovery and download. To date, PocketGear has
generated over $400 million in mobile application revenues for the more
than 32,000 developers in the PocketGear Developer Program. PocketGear
powers storefront and content solutions for over 40 partners, including
4 of the world’s top 5 handset manufacturers, 4 of the top 5 mobile
operators in the US, 3 of the top 10 mobile operators globally, and
leading media and ecommerce companies, including Samsung, LG, Sony
Ericsson, Research in Motion, Microsoft, T-Mobile, AT&T, and
Verizon Wireless. In addition, PocketGear operates the largest network
of independent app stores, including Handango.com, PocketGear.com,
Mobile2Day.de, SymbianGear.com, AndroidGear.com, RIMGear.com,
Smartphone.net, and PalmGear.com.
PocketGear is headquartered in Durham, NC with offices in Munich, Germany and Irving, TX. For more information, please visit
http://corp.pocketgear.com.
About Handango
Handango is the leading provider of smartphone applications globally
for the BlackBerry©, Palm©, Windows Mobile©, Symbian OS©, and Linux
platforms. Leveraging its 140,000+ apps, network of 23,000+ content
partners, and vast distribution network, Handango delivers top-selling
mobile applications including games, business and entertainment apps
and productivity tools to millions of consumers. Applications can be
downloaded via www.handango.com, partner Web sites, SD cards and
Handango’s proprietary on-device catalog, InHand, the industry’s
leading content delivery platform that allows consumers to purchase
mobile apps directly from their smartphone and download them over the
air. Handango’s unparalleled content expertise has attracted numerous
mobile industry partners, including Microsoft, Verizon Wireless,
T-Mobile, Alltel, AT&T, 3UK, LG, SoftBank, Sony Ericsson, Samsung,
Best Buy, The CarPhone Warehouse, CNET, and AOL.
PocketGear가 Handango인수 - 2010.02.24
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