Nokia acquires mobile analytics company Motally

The Finnish phone maker plans to convert Motally's tools to handle its own platforms

Nokia has signed an agreement to acquire Motally, a privately owned U.S. company that has specialized in tracking and reporting usage statistics on mobile websites and applications, it said on Friday.

Nokia's plan is to adapt Motally's tools for cross-platform application, the Qt user interface framework, operating systems Symbian and Meego and Java. Motally's tools will also continue to serve the company's existing customer base, Nokia said in a statement. Today, Motally's tools are compatible with Apple's iPad and iPhone, Research In Motion's Blackberry phones and Android-based smartphones, according to its website.

Using Motally's analytics tools developers can, for example, identify carrier, user location, which phones are most commonly used and how applications are used. Nokia hopes to make it easier for developers and publishers to "optimize the development of their mobile applications through increased understanding of how users engage," it said.

Third-party tools are becoming an increasingly important part of the mobile application developer ecosystem, and today the vendors of these tools, which are usually from the U.S., prioritize the iPhone and Android-based smartphones over Symbian. So, when it comes to analytics, Nokia has taken things into their own hands by buying Motally.

Nokia isn't saying how much it is paying for Motally, but the transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter, according to the Finnish phone maker. Currently, Motally employs a team of eight people.

Send news tips and comments to mikael_ricknas@idg.com

More about: Apple, Motion, Nokia, Research In Motion, Symbian

Comments

1

Ed McLaughlin

Tue 24/08/2010 - 10:46

Smart Move

This acquisition makes a lot of sense. Device makers need to prove why developers and publishers should use their devices. What are users actually doing with the phone? Are they using the features and functionality, or are they just downloading them? A good analytics package will provide these answers - and a lot more.

Why wouldn't other manufacturers do the same thing? If mobile is about connecting more deeply with consumers, wouldn't they want the tools to ensure that they’re actually doing exactly that?

Seems to me that we need less mobile hype and a lot more proof. And Nokia took a big step in this direction. Smart move.

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