InfoSpace snaps up Elkware for $26 million

Internet and mobile media technology company InfoSpace announced its acquisition of German mobile publisher Elkware today. The sale is expected to go through early next year for a reported $26 million in cash. The Elkware deal marks the third major mobile games acquisition for InfoSpace this year, following on the heels of last month's purchase of UK developer Iomo.

Elkware is best known in the European mobile gaming market, where it has relationships with important cellular operators like Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile. It produces a wide variety of mobile games for all audiences, from critically acclaimed strategy games like Anno 1503 AD and Port Royale 2, to licensed games based on The X-Files, Pamela Anderson, and Miami Vice. The company joins Iomo and Atlas Mobile to form InfoSpace Mobile, an InfoSpace subsidiary that has grown into one of the industry's most significant mobile publishers in a matter of months.

"We are excited about expanding our presence in the European mobile market," said Jim Voelker, chairman and chief executive officer of InfoSpace, Inc. "Elkware's interactive role-playing games and successful strategy titles are a great complement to our casual games from IOMO and growing slate of multiplayer tournament games for prizes. Together we will be able to leverage our products, technology, and broad distribution with mobile operators to reach mobile subscribers around the world."