Facebook eyes mobile masses with Snaptu acquisition

With its sights on the mobile mass market, dominant social network Facebook recently purchased Snaptu, an Israeli startup that enables people to use smartphone-like applications on simpler “feature" phones. Snaptu develops applications that make Web services available on feature phones, which are the true mass market phone category and therefore exactly where Facebook wants to be, according to analyst firm Ovum. “Feature phones are less highly specified and priced than smartphones like the iPhone and are therefore particularly important for users in emerging markets, where in many countries mobile penetration is greater than fixed," said Ovum principal analyst Eden Zoller. “In this context feature phones will dominate consumer access to the Internet and their experience of web services. This is a high growth opportunity and Facebook is making sure it is in a good position to exploit it," Zoller said. Snaptu developed a Facebook for feature phones application earlier this year and it is now available on 2,500 different devices. “Facebook must like the results, judging by the $60-$70 million it is widely reported to be paying for the Israeli developer, and clearly sees Snaptu’s technology as a means of extending its reach to a wider base of feature phone users," Zoller observed. — Newsbytes.ph