Rumour: AT&T To Buy Mobile Search Company?

by: admin Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Rating: perhaps we do do rumours

I keep saying we don’t to rumours – but I had a tip off this morning. A very senior person in a top US company told me

“Bena. I heard that AT&T is about to buy a search company”

I asked, “mobile search”

Response, “I believe so”.

So my brain is going wild – but, IF THIS IS TRUE, my conclusion is that it must be InfoSpace the bit that is left.

I thought at first JumpTap because of the July Systems relationship but I don’t think that either JT or Medio are ready to be sold. Then I thought browser and got Novarra – but they just got USD 50 in funding; then Action Engine but it also just got USD 22 million; then I went smaller with Targetize but to be honest – in the light of convergence if this is true – it could only be InfoSpace online (because mobile is now Motricity) and the Find It ODP is too small… MCN is more in Japan – FAST? Only unless it divides its mobile business.
Hmm – well we can only wait and see – if anyone knows anything about this please contact me.

2 Responses to “Rumour: AT&T To Buy Mobile Search Company?”

Todd Said:

Anything is possible I suppose but Infospace value derives from having a large and growing client base including the big 3 US carriers. An exclusive to ATT would seem to destroy the value of INSP business model. Furthermore I dont see carriers owning search units as a good fit.

Comment made on November 2nd, 2007 at 1:20 pm

bena Said:

Todd, I know. Its just a rumour but its from a very good source - otherwise I get tips like that all the time.

Perhaps its a bigger or new deployment and the term “buy” is misused - not sure - but will keep my finger on it.
bena

Comment made on November 2nd, 2007 at 2:23 pm