Mforma, publisher of mobile content and development tools, has acquired British developer and entertainment platform vendor nGame. The combined group will be one of the world’s largest suppliers of mobile content solutions.

The two companies will be able to offer Java, WAP, SMS and MMS content download solutions, location-based services, relationships with several hundred third party developers and partnerships with leading traditional media brands. Mforma’s customer base of about 40 network operators includes almost all of the major US carriers, Vodafone and Orange.

“Our goal is to give carriers and content developers the best possible opportunity to be successful,” said Daniel Kranzler, chairman of Mforma Group. “Mforma gives content suppliers the ability to reach virtually every carrier and their subscribers through a single relationship, and gives carriers instant access to virtually any content at substantial savings. The tools and technology offered by Mforma make the content play on any network in any format. Now, carriers can deliver wireless data as originally envisioned, without the huge investment in systems and personnel that caused earlier WAP implementations to be less than successful.”

John Brimacombe, president and COO of Mforma Group and former CEO of nGame, added: “With the emergence of Java, MMS, and advanced networks, which will provide users with services they really need and will value, the industry has a clear opportunity to be successful delivering wireless data. New compelling content is now available and more is on the way. Mforma Group is uniquely positioned to provide a real solution to the industry – we have the content, we have the technology, and we have the relationships with content suppliers – everything carriers need to be successful.”

Insight

The mobile entertainment sector is ripe for consolidation. As operators start to rollout mass market deployments, they will be looking to form relationships with stable, well-funded vendors which can supply complete solutions. nGame, with its innovative games developers and high profile brand relationships, will be a good fit for Mforma, which is best known for its platforms and tools.

There will be cross-selling opportunities for existing customers and the additional benefit of being able to advertise the company as a true ‘turnkey’ solutions provider. Financials were not disclosed, but it is unlikely nGame, which had been struggling financially, extracted a particularly high price from Mforma.