Microsoft to buy Mobicomp

LISBON - Microsoft has agreed to buy Portuguese mobile software company MobiComp in the U.S. software giant's biggest-ever investment in Portugal, Microsoft's chief in Portugal said on Thursday.

Microsoft's head in Portugal, Nuno Duarte, said Microsoft intends to turn MobiComp into a research and development unit in Portugal after the acquisition. He gave no financial details of the purchase other than that it was Microsoft's biggest investment in Portugal to date.

"This is clearly the biggest investment Microsoft has made in Portugal in recent years," Nuno told journalists. "MobiComp will and R&D centre of Microsoft's mobile communications division."

MobiComp produces software that can store content, such as contacts and calendars, held on mobile phones, and has a tool to enhance mobile social networking to Internet sites like Facebook.
Finland's Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, is among MobiComp's clients.

Copyright 2008 Reuters.

Source: REUTERS