Seven acquires Smartner

Seven, the wireless push e-mail developer that has gained traction in the Asian and U.S. markets over the last few years, has acquired Finland-based Smartner to add new leverage to its efforts in the European market.

Smartner, founded in 1999, brings existing relationships with major European service providers, as well as an e-mail platform that works across all handset models, said Bill Nguyen, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Seven, based in Redwood City, Calif.

"They can use our help on the server side, and we needed a strong partner on the handset side," Nguyen said. "RIM's BlackBerry has been great in the high-end market, but it's clear the market is bigger than that segment, and carriers need to work with solutions for all kinds of devices."

Nguyen said the acquisition, the financial terms of which were not disclosed, was driven by Seven's president and co-CEO, Kent Thexton, who joined Seven last year and had worked with Smartner in his previous job as chief data and marketing officer for carrier O2.

Smartner's staff in Finland will remain intact, and Paul Hedman, CEO of Smartner, will be placed in charge of Seven Europe, Nguyen said.