Microsoft has acquired the French mobile search technology provider MotionBridge for an undisclosed sum to improve the Windows Live service it plans to introduce.
has acquired the French mobile search technology provider MotionBridge for an undisclosed sum to improve the Windows Live service it plans to introduce.
The deal, announced Monday at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, will add the Paris-based company and its wireless search capabilities to the Redmond software giant as it attempts to broaden the range of services it can deliver over the Internet and over wireless connections as well.
Microsoft also said Monday it would provide a push-based mobile email system that it hopes will rival Research In Motion’s BlackBerry service (see Microsoft Aims at BlackBerry).
Microsoft Aims at BlackBerry“The emerging field of mobile search is strategically important and crucial to delivering on our vision for Windows Live of providing a seamless and rich information experience for individuals and businesses across devices,” said Christopher Payne, corporate vice president of MSN Search at Microsoft.
Shares of Microsoft rose $0.03 to $26.42 in recent trading.
Filtering Devices
The MotionBridge technology delivers clustered results and deep links to downloadable content from different providers. The technology also offers device filtering to customize the way the content is delivered to different types of phones and other devices.
Mobile carriers can manage the service with the help of web-based back-office tools and can get access to detailed usage statistics. Microsoft plans to continue MotionBridge’s relationships with several wireless operators, including Orange, Sprint, and O2.
The MotionBridge acquisition should help Microsoft in its ongoing competition with Google in the search field. On Tuesday, Google announced a wireless search deal with another carrier, Vodafone, to provide search capabilities on the Vodafone live! 3G service.
VodafoneMotionBridge was started in June 2000 and has carriers with more than 90 million subscribers using its search technology. The company also has filed several patents on its technology.
Microsoft has been working to improve its array of web-based services with its Windows Live and Office Live initiatives. Last month, it announced new research and development facilities aimed at creating innovative search technology (see Microsoft Flexes Research Arm).
Microsoft Flexes Research ArmThe Microsoft and MotionBridge search teams will collaborate on developing some of these new search technologies for the Windows Live service.