Fate Acompli: Microsoft gobbles Android email upstart 'for $200m'

Internet Security Threat Report 2014

Microsoft has stumped up a reported $200m for San Francisco-based email app maker Acompli.

That Microsoft wanted to gobble Acompli was the worst-kept secret in the industry: a crazy fingered insider had penned a short-lived blog post that had a URL suggesting Microsoft was acquiring the firm, and hit publish before they were ready to go public.

The acquisition was officially confirmed on Monday.

“In a world where more than half of email messages are first read on a mobile device, it’s essential to give people fantastic email experiences wherever they go,” said Raj Jha, corporate veep for Outlook and Office 365 in a canned statement.

Microsoft's Office suite was made available for iPads and iPhones this year. Meanwhile, Acompli – formed by execs from Zimbra and VMware – builds email apps for iOS and Android, so it ought to fit right into Redmond's new found acceptance of other operating system makers.

With most people using phones powered by Apple and Google sauce, it would be foolhardy of Microsoft to ignore the majority of the market.

Jha said the buy will “expedite our work to deliver the full power of Office to mobile devices”.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but according to one report, the sellers got a little over $200m from Microsoft. ®

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