BlackBerry maker buys mobile apps developer
RIM picks up Viigo
By Nancy Gohring | Published: 10:06, 29 March 2010
Research In Motion has purchased Viigo, a developer of software that delivers syndicated content to mobile phones, according to a brief note on Viigo's website.
Viigo users open the software client on their phones to find a range of information such as weather reports, stock quotes, sports information, podcasts and news headlines. The software is customisable, so users can choose headlines from preferred news sources and set locations for weather information.
Viigo also offers a product for enterprises that lets business users access corporate information through the Viigo software. An administrator installs the Viigo server software behind the firewall and then can set up a range of feeds to mobile workers. Feeds can include a corporate calendar, where with one click the user can add an event onto their own calendar, an internal product list that includes descriptions and costs that could be useful to salespeople and a projects tab that lets users log hours or expenses related to projects.
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While Viigo's website includes at least one photo of an HTC phone, it heavily promotes the use of Viigo on BlackBerry devices. In a brief note on the Viigo website, company CEO Mark Ruddock wrote that his team would continue to develop for the BlackBerry, but he did not say whether the software would continue to work on other platforms.
A Viigo press representative did not immediately reply to questions. RIM has not yet issued a press release about the acquisition and did not reply to a request for comment by the time this story posted. The companies have not disclosed the terms of the deal.
In addition to individual users and businesses, Viigo is also aiming its software at media companies, mobile operators and smartphone application developers. Those organisations can use Viigo to distribute their content to end users.
