Groupon on mobile shopping spree

StartupSmart.com, reports.

Groupon acquired New York-based start-up Hyperpublic for an undisclosed sum. It's an open database of people, places and things tied to a specific location. Anyone can add objects to the database, while developers are able to build applications on top of the data.

Groupon has acquired Kima Labs, the maker of mobile barcode-reading app Barcode Hero and mobile payment app TapBuy. The terms of this deal are also undisclosed.

Like Groupon, TapBuy offers daily deals, in its case for some 100 brands, TechCrunch says.

It also processes transactions using credit card information provided by users, providing some intelligence behind it by grouping purchases together and adding coupons to purchases.

The acquisitions signal a pick-up in interest of the mobile sector by Groupon. The company says wants to put their deals in front of consumers even while they're on-the-go, Wall St Cheat Sheet states.

Groupon says: “Kima Labs has developed popular apps that make mobile transactions easier, more fun and more of a possibility for merchants. We're excited by the team's ability to create technology that consumers love, and we believe they'll be strong assets in our pursuit to change the way people shop.”