• »Sign In
  • »Sign Up
  • Check Out
  • »FAQs

    China Electronics Wholesaler

    E-mail:
    Password:
    • SHOPPING
    • NEWS
    • KNOWLEDGE
    • FROUM
    0 Items(s)(US$0.000)
    • All Topics
    • >>
    • Mobile Phones
    • Submit a New Story
    • 5
    • dig it

    Linux Vendor Completes $32 Million Acquisition of US Mobile Technology Leader

    Michelle Ruhfass on Thursday July 03, 2008.

    Note: Sponsored advertising links, if any, are in green.

    <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"></script>

    Purple Labs acquires mobile browser business from Openwave

    Chambery, France - July 3, 2008 - Purple Labs, a French developer of Linux-based mobile software, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the mobile client software business of California-based Openwave Systems, in an asset sale valued at more than $32 million. The browser and messaging products acquired in the deal are among the best-selling mobile applications in the world, having already shipped in more than 1.5 billion mobile phones.

    Following the acquisition, Purple Labs now supplies mobile browser software to all of the top 5 phone manufacturers, which together produce over 80% of the world's mobile phones.

    Under the terms of the deal, Purple Labs has acquired the products, software code, patents and customer contracts of the Openwave business. For the quarter ending in March, Openwave had reported $11.1 million in revenues from these customer contracts, including software license fees and related engineering services.

    Purple Labs Commits to Further Investment in Browser and Related Technologies In a letter sent today to mobile phone manufacturers, Simon Wilkinson, Purple Labs CEO, outlined the company's plan for the newly acquired business.

    "Purple Labs will continue to maintain the existing products, and invest in the next-generation Surfer browser and other advanced mobile Internet technologies," said Wilkinson. "In addition to the California-based development team we acquired from Openwave, we already have 75 engineers at our development centre in Chamb茅ry, France and plan to grow this team aggressively. Our aim is to extend the industry leadership established so well by Openwave."

    "Further, we plan to reuse many of the Openwave technologies in our Purple Labs Linux platform. We are focused exclusively on the requirements of LiMo Foundation members such as Vodafone and Orange - and believe that this will ultimately create new market opportunities for our manufacturer customers."

    Gordon Tsang Appointed GM of the Acquired Business Purple Labs also informed customers today that it has appointed Gordon Tsang to be general manager for the browser/messaging business unit. Effective immediately, Tsang now heads a global sales and engineering support team with offices in California, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo and Manchester, England. About 80 employees are expected to move from Openwave to Purple Labs.

    Tsang is unusually well prepared to assume his new general manager role, having been employed in the same capacity at Openwave before joining Purple Labs earlier this year as senior vice president of sales in Asia.

    "Gordon is a proven leader, and his strong track record while at Openwave ensures a smooth transition for the customers and employees now moving to Purple Labs," said Simon Wilkinson, Purple Labs CEO. "We are committed to making this as seamless as possible for everyone involved."

    Effectively a Management Buy-Out
    Tsang is, in fact, one of several ex-Openwave executives now with Purple Labs.The messaging technologies in the newly acquired portfolio were originally developed by a UK start-up called Magic4, where Wilkinson was founder and CEO. Magic4 rapidly became the global leader in messaging before being acquired by Openwave in 2004, at which time Wilkinson, Tsang and other Magic4 executives moved to leadership roles at Openwave. Wilkinson reunited the team at Purple Labs after taking the CEO role there in October of last year.

    "The opportunity to acquire the Openwave business was unexpected, but fits very well with the mobile Linux strategy that Purple Labs was already pursuing," said Wilkinson. "And given that several of us previously led this Openwave business, our investors are confident that we can integrate the operations effectively and deliver the financial return they require."

    Based in Chambery, France, Purple Labs is funded by three European venture capital firms: Sofinnova Partners, Earlybird Venture Capital, and Partners Group.

    Financial Terms
    Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Openwave transferred assets of its client software business to Purple Labs on June 27, 2008 in exchange for $30 million in cash, an additional $2 million if certain conditions are met, and warrants to purchase 2% of Purple Labs common stock. Additionally, Openwave will provide transition services for up to six months, and bear the first $2 million of such expenses, to smoothly transfer the client business to Purple Labs.

    Advisors to Purple LabsCooley Godward Kronish represented Purple Labs in its agreement with Openwave Systems.

    Ernst & Young and Eversheds acted as financial and legal advisors to Purple Labs.

    About Purple Labs
    Purple Labs is the only independent software vendor with a complete Linux solution for mass-market 3G phones. The Purple Labs Linux Suite enables phone manufacturers to replace their legacy operating systems with a flexible and scalable Linux platform, accelerating development of feature-rich 3G phones while reducing investment. Building on its European presence in France and the UK, Purple Labs recently expanded into Asia, with new offices in Beijing, China and Seoul, South Korea. For more information, visit www.purplelabs.com.

    Submitted:
    184 days ago
    Submitter:
    SELLING OUT
    Topic:
    Mobile Phones
    Source:
    www.mobileburn.com
    • O2 introduces new Sierra Wireless USB Modem for wireless broadband in the United Kingdom
    • Pure Pricing Analysis Sees New 3 UK Tariffs Dominate Small Business Sector Offerings
    • Forum Nokia Makes It Easier to Develop Widgets
    • Google Enables IM Program on the iPhone
    • Access Launches Widgets for Windows Mobile
    • Openmoko Puts the Neo FreeRunner Up for Sale
     
    New GSM Touch Panel Mobile Phone, MADB-A159
    Sample Price:US$124.291
     
    3.0G Technology - EDGE Netbook - Key input Filmy Mobile phone, MAQB-B274
    Sample Price:US$124.525
    Comments (0)
    • Add Your Comment
    • Please login or register to submit your comment.
      • What are the benefits of having a Dig account?
      • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
      • Dig the stories that you like and help determine what should be popular on Digg
      • Create a network of friends, so you can help each other find interesting stories
      • Start building a history of content that you've Dugg, for easy reference later
     
    Windows OS 6.0 system WIFI and GPS intelligent mobile phone, MAQB-B256
    Sample Price:US$219.750
     
    Sensitive Touch Screen - WIFI - GPS mobile phone, MATB-B255
    Sample Price:US$175.800
    CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOPPING HELP MY ACCOUNT COMPANY INFO TOOLS & RESOURCES
    • Contact Us
    • RMA Request
    • Looking for a item
    • Send Us a Message
    • Shopping Process
    • Return Policy
    • FAQs
    • Knowledge Base
    • Login/Register
    • My Account
    • Order History
    • My Wish list
    • About Us
    • The VIP Club
    • Customer Comments
    • Bank Account Info
    • Site Map
    • Downloads
    • Search
    • Links

    visamastercarddiscoverecheckamexpaypalPayPal VerifiedUCC

    VIP Club | Policies | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2006 China Electronics Wholesaler Inc. All rights reserved.