Verisign buys mobile publisher

Crazy Frog keeps growing

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 20th March 2006 15:46 GMT

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Verisign has bought mobile content and billing company m-Qube for $250m.

m-Qube works with companies such as CBS, Nickelodeon, Reuters and Public Enemy to make and distribute mobile content and charge for it.

The m-Qube deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2006 and to have no effect on earnings for the full year. m-Qube is based in Watertown, Massachusetts and employs 200 people.

Verisign has been on a bit of a shopping spree lately - in mid-February it bought Austrian mobile applications firm 3united. The company also bought Crazy Frog creator Jamba. The irritating ringtone annoyed people - not just with its relentless adverts, but also with a payment model which left many people subscribed to regular updates without their knowledge. In December last year, two firms behind the frog were fined a total of £40,000.

The latest deal is growing evidence of Verisign's move away from its core URL business towards the growing mobile market.

View the full press release here. ®

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