Online auction and shopping giant eBay has announced plans to acquire hyper-local mobile advertising provider Where Inc.
“We reached an agreement today to acquire a company that delivers both talent and technology. Where, based in Boston, MA is a leading location media company and local discovery mobile application,” eBay said on its PayPal blog.
By giving people hyper-local, relevant retailer information and deals on their mobile phones, we see a huge opportunity for local merchants to reach more buyers, and for consumers to get more choice and value when they shop.
The acquisition represents another bold move on the part of eBay to better capitalize on available resources in mobile and local, two admittedly “key areas for us,” eBay says.
As noted by The Wall Street Journal, the deal is part of the company’s “broader acquisition strategy.”
Earlier this year, eBay said it was actively seeking deals that meld online and in-store commerce, expand its global footprint and build upon PayPal’s digital-wallet strategy.
Last month, eBay announced its purchase of e-commerce company GSI Commerce Inc. for $2.4 billion.
“Local commerce companies like Where are blurring the lines between in-store and online shopping,” eBay says. “By giving people hyper-local, relevant retailer information and deals on their mobile phones, we see a huge opportunity for local merchants to reach more buyers, and for consumers to get more choice and value when they shop.”
To read the complete announcement on the Official PayPal Blog, click here.
