Nokia gets social with Plazes

Global - Nokia is set to acquire private start-up Plazes AG, allowing it to venture beyond its current offerings, adding context-aware services with social network capabilities like tracking presence and time. 

Financial details were not available but the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.

"This acquisition helps Nokia to accelerate its vision of bringing people and places closer together in line with our broader services strategy. In addition to the key assets, through this acquisition Nokia will bring on a visionary team with an advanced understanding of social-activity services, as well as the technical ability to further develop this area," said Niklas Savander, head of Nokia services & software.

Based in Berlin, Germany with a principal staff strength of 13, Plazes will be integrated into Nokia's services and software unit.  Plazes shared in its blog that it will still accept registrations for its services even as it becomes part of Nokia's location-based service. It will work alongside an earlier Nokia acquisition, gate5, now known as Nokia gate5.

Announcements Plazer made prior to its acquisition will still hold -- such as the release of the iPhone Plazer and the launch of its current services which are still in closed beta.

A Total Telecom report added the acquisition by the mobile giant will not prevent consumers from accessing the service via handsets made by other vendors as hinted by a spokesperson from Plazes.