Microsoft (News - Alert) Corp. has announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement to acquire Musiwave SA. Musiwave is an Openwave company and a leading provider of mobile music entertainment services to operators and media companies. This acquisition, when completed, will combine Microsoft’s Connected Entertainment technologies and services, including Windows Mobile, Zune, MSN and Windows Live with Musiwave’s relationships with music labels, device makers and mobile operators that deliver digital entertainment to consumers. Musiwave would continue to operate out of its current headquarters in Paris if the transaction proceeds.

 

Microsoft seeks to provide its customers connected entertainment to life and the acquisition of Musiwave will bring in lot of assets that would help the company in achieving its vision. The company strives to provide people with entertainment they want, whenever and however they want it. The company will be assisted by Musiwave with its software expertise and extensive relationships with operators and music companies.

 

Pieter Knook, senior vice president of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft, said in a press release, “Microsoft and Musiwave share the same philosophy in working with hardware and mobile operator partners to deliver great experiences for mobile device users. Bringing Musiwave on board would provide an opportunity for Microsoft to explore new areas in the mobile space previously untapped, and to showcase the power of software plus services. This contemplated acquisition reflects Microsoft’s recognition of the software and technology expertise in Europe.”

 

More than 140 mobile phones made by 50 handset-makers feature Microsoft mobile technology on their mobile platforms. These handsets are sold by more than 160 operators around the world. As the mobile music device market is growing at a rapid rate, operators are looking for ways to deliver digital entertainment to their customers. The press release quotes technology research firm Ovum, which states that 1,106 million mobile music phones will be shipped worldwide in 2010. Musiwave brings a sumptuous selection of ringtones, full-track downloads and music videos to consumers and is a provider of white-label music solutions to mobile operators in Europe.