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KDDI acquires start-ups, invests in five more [TeleGeography CommsUpdate](TeleGeography CommsUpdate Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Telecoms operator KDDI (au) is purchasing two Japanese start-ups and investing in a further five more, the Nikkei reports, noting that the total investment is in the region of JPY12 billion (USD113 million). The operator has purchased 'life-hacking' site Nanapi and Bitcellar – operator of ranking site Qrank and popular camera app developer FX Camera. The five firms to receive injections are: AppBroadCast, Jorte, Natasha, Vasily and Luxa. KDDI is Japan's third largest mobile operator by subscribers behind NTT DOCOMO and Softbank Corp, and has long been a supporter of the country's start-ups, but admits its investment capabilities are limited. Nonetheless, with Nanapi attracting 24 million visitors a month and with Bitcellar noting that its FX Camera has been downloaded 20 million times, KDDI will hope that it is money well spent. (c) 2014 PriMetrica, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |