Skype has announced a further move into mobile technology with the acquisition of GroupMe – a group messaging service founded in 2010. The news follows hot on the heels of the news that Google will purchase Motorola Mobility to augment its roll-out of the android smartphone software. Skype made other moves into mobile earlier in 2011 with the acquisition of mobile video provider Qik.
Skype was founded in 2003 and is set to purchase GroupMe for an undisclosed sum. GroupMe was founded by Jared Hecht and Steve Martocci at a Techcrunch Disrupt Hackathon in 2010. Investors in GroupMe include Khosla Ventures, First Round Capital, Betaworks, SV Angel, Lerer Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, Founder Collective and other angel investors.
Mobile devices are set to overtake PCs and laptops as the method through which users access the internet with a billion people currently accessing the internet via mobile. Moreover, mobile is a preferred device in emerging markets and offers opportunities to companies looking to establish a market presence in growth economies.