Microsoft has announced the acquisition of Tellme Networks, a speech technology company, to enhance its achievements in the field of communications and expand mobile search capabilities.
Although it did not wish to disclose the financial terms of the agreement, the world’s largest software manufacturer expects the transaction to be completed in the second quarter. According to sources familiar with the situation, the two companies are in negotiations for an agreement that could value Tellme at over $800 million.
In that case, it would be Microsoft’s largest acquisition since 2002. Tellme, based in the state of California and employing 320 people, enables users to find information about local businesses, traffic routes, sports scores, stock prices, weather, and news from the internet via voice. Founded in 1999, it provides automated telephone services to companies including Merrill Lynch and Federal Express.
More than 40 million people use its services monthly. Microsoft believes that mobile search represents a relatively untapped market where it can better compete with Google, the dominant player in computer-based search. (H)
