Lenco Mobile acquires Simply Ideas

Lenco Mobile subsidiary AdMax Media has acquired Simply Ideas, a search marketing software company, reports Reuters.

Gideon Rubin, former CEO of Simply Ideas, who has been appointed as COO and VP of search and vertical markets at AdMax Media, says: "We have been focused on technology and media convergence for years and I now believe that we are one of the first companies able to provide its clients with a fully integrated approach to their marketing and communications needs, covering both online and mobile.”

Lenco Mobile adds that it plans to expand the Simply Ideas search capability to its mobile phone business to capture the rapidly growing mobile search market.

Etisalat has acquired a 16.6% stake in SoftAtHome, a software provider of home operating platforms that helps service providers deliver convergent applications for digital homes, states Al Bawaba.

Etisalat has selected the SoftAtHome Operating Platform to deploy its new multi-play solution offering IPTV, video-on-demand, personal video recording, Internet TV, digital content sharing and broadband access.

Humaid Rashid Sahoo Alsuwaidi, CEO of E-vision, Etisalat says: “Etisalat plans to strengthen its technology leadership in the digital home services in the Middle East, while furthering its vision and commitment to provide pioneering solutions to its customers.”

Analyst firm Gartner has predicted the 10 top technologies that will be strategic for most organisations in 2010, include cloud computing, advanced analytics and green tech, says Silicon Republic.com.

By year-end 2010, 1.2 billion people will carry handsets capable of mobile commerce, providing a rich environment for the convergence of mobility and the Web.

David Cearley, vice-president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, says: “Companies should factor the top 10 technologies into their strategic planning process by asking key questions and making deliberate decisions about them during the next two years.”