Yahoo adds to its Web acquisitions
Email, address book management startup is week’s third deal
SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo acquired email and address book management app Xobni, the Sunnyvale company’s third acquisition in as many days as it seeks to revamp its online products and boost its Web traffic.
Yahoo said it will integrate San Francisco- based Xobni’s technology into its communications products, including the mobile and PC versions of its email and instant messaging services.
Yahoo did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, which the technology blog All Things D pegged at $ 30 million to $ 40 million, but Bloomberg Businessweek reported it reached $ 70 million. Yahoo said 31 Xobni employees will be joining Yahoo, including CEO Jeff Bonforte, who previously worked at Yahoo.
The deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions by Yahoo since Marissa Mayer became chief executive a year ago, vowing to boost traffic to Yahoo’s online services and to revive the company’s stagnant revenue growth.
Yahoo, which has about 11,000 employees, has acquired more than a dozen small Web startups in the past year, focusing particularly on adding technology and services designed for smartphones and tablets.
On Tuesday, Yahoo acquired Qwiki, a mobile app that creates mini- movies using a consumer’s collection of photos and videos. On Monday, Yahoo acquired Bignoggins Productions, a San Jose mobile app to help players of fantasy sports teams.
Last month, Yahoo closed its $ 1.1 billion acquisition of blogging service Tumblr, the largest deal by Mayer.
Yahoo’s shares fi nished Wednesday’s regular trading session up 2.4 percent at $ 25.59.