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Microsoft gets going with MotionBridge mobile search acquisition
Mobile search has received a big shot in arm with Microsoft purchasing Paris-based MotionBridge.
The company was founded in June 2000 in Paris (France) as SPeeQ S.A., the main product being MotionBridge, which provides a white-label, turnkey search solution for mobile carriers and mobile portals.
Two years later (March 2002) the venture unit Siemens Mobile Acceleration (in Communications) invested in SPeeQ. Perhaps in a stroke of bad timing Siemens Venture Capital sold the entire portfolio of Siemens Acceleration in Communications, about 30 companies, to an undisclosed investor in December 2005. Sometimes one sale such as this of MotionBridge to Microsoft can be the making of the whole portfolio - usually the case actually.
Microsoft's move comes amid an increased focus on search generally and as Microsoft prepares to launch mobile-search capabilities as part of its overall Windows Live services effort. Microsoft said that it acquired "key assets" in the deal, including the French company's technology and mobile operator relationships.
"The emerging field of mobile search is strategically important and crucial to delivering on our vision for Windows Live of providing a seamless and rich information experience for individuals and businesses across devices," MSN corporate vice president Christopher Payne said in a statement. "With MotionBridge, we are excited to continue to offer mobile operators the tools to maximize the value of their content and data networks, and provide a powerful search engine for mobile users."
With MotionBridge technology, Payne said Microsoft would be able to boost the value of its own mobile and local Web search products.
The technology sold by MotionBridge gives users clustered results and direct links to additional downloadable content. It also filters content for compatibility with the type of device being used to access the Web. Microsoft said it plans to continue offering MotionBridge's current services - which are used by operators such as Sprint Nextel, O2 and Orange - and use the company's people and technology to expand the mobile capabilities of Windows Live.
One of MotionBridge's interesting products is Wizard - a client-server solution that offers keywords auto-completion based on context. The key effect is to shorten the navigation path to services, and also to keep more traffic on the operator's portal with a greater depth of offerings.
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