NeuStar Buys Mobile IM Vendor

NeuStar says that it is paying aprox. US$139 million to buy Followap, a UK-based provider of mobile instant messaging (IM) products in Europe and Asia. NeuStar projects Followap revenue to exceed US$25 million in 2007 and to more than double in 2008.

Followap delivers interoperability between operators and Internet portals in five different functional areas: instant messaging, presence, multimedia gateways, inter-carrier messaging hubs, and services for handset clients.

Followap will form the core of NeuStar's Next Generation Messaging group and will complement NeuStar's SIP-IX suite of interoperability product offerings and services.

Jeff Ganek, NeuStar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "Strong demand is emerging worldwide for Instant Messaging, and leading mobile network operators in Europe already depend on Followap's products to deliver IM. Mobile network operators can rely on NeuStar and Followap for the necessary technical and service quality to support their growing IM volumes. By enabling IM, NeuStar will build on Followap's strengths to deliver essential infrastructure services in Europe and Asia."

Posted to the site on 29th November 2006