Facebook Acquires Snaptu

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Amid smartphones rising in popularity, feature-phones still rule in emerging markets and low-tier markets. Facebook wants in on the game, and has acquired Snaptu.

Snaptu provides an online interface that lets feature-phones access Web- and mobile services otherwise confined to smartphones. Running on various platforms like Symbian and Windows Mobile 6.x, Snaptu gives access to services like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and the like, without the need for a native app for each of these services.

Facebook seems to have this market in mind in pursuing the acquisition.

As part of our goal to offer people around the world the opportunity to connect and share on mobile devices, we’re excited to confirm that we recently signed an agreement to acquire Snaptu. We expect the acquisition to close in a few weeks, subject to customary closing conditions.

Israel-based Snaptu earlier raised venture capital to the tune of $6 million. This time around, Snaptu has opted for straight acquisition, although no exact figures are being disclosed by either party. Facebook expects the acquisition to be finalized in a few weeks’ time.