The mobile industry is clearly salivating at the prospect of deep-pocket players, like Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), buying startups, especially after Google dropped $750 million for AdMob.
After early morning rumors, Apple is now expected to announce that it has acquired Quattro Wireless, a mobile ad network that also has a heavy concentration in publishing mobile web sites for existing web properties. After the report, one source reached out to us to say that they heard Apple was paying $270 million for the company. Another source, who also had heard the deal closed, said they hoped that was the correct number. But Kara Swisher’s AllThingsD isn’t hesitating in reporting the acquisition as fact, and wrote in a late post today that “several sources” had confirmed that Apple was set to acquire Quattro for $275 million. The announcement was coming as soon as tomorrow, she added.
Quattro has raised $28 million from two main venture investors
Good Job Quattro Guys. Would this be another m-Qube type of deal? (Sold to VeriSign in 06 for +250MM and then sold to Mobile Messenger for less than 10% that value). Same guys, same venture story, same outcome?
No this totally fits with the Apple model. They will announce the tablet tied to a new wireless company. I hope the tablet is also a phone. That would make the integration a little tighter. It has always been the Apple model to keep the users in house. Does anyone remember .mac and appleworld. They have to beef up Quattro Wireless so it can support the data that their users will demand. If they team up with Comcast or CLEAR – it might work a little better – but these companies also only have demonstration cities at the current time. Apple needs to deliver fast 4G wireless content and TV via their internet service. On Demand TV, Movies and books and magazines. As an old diehard Apple guy… I think they should make the tablet 9 inches diagonal to pay homage to the original Macintosh…. with 128K of memeory. I have one of them – upgraded to a MacPlus.
And the only caution I give to all buyers is wait and see. Do not jump in. Wait a year for the dust to settle before buying this new technology. I think a similar integrated tablet with Amazon content from Microsoft or Google – if announced at the same time with 3D projection might beat the Apple model. But the other guys had better be cooking this up fast! May the best product win. And if it contains a phone with video ichat or similar services – that would be a plus.