Google has acquire Divide, a mobile-device software startup that helps corporations manage their employees’ use of mobile devices.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed and a Google spokesman said the company would have no comment beyond a statement released by the New York-based Divide.
Divide, which was founded four years ago by former Morgan Stanley (MS) information-technology executives, said the company will become part of Google’s Android division. Android is the most popular mobile operating system, holding a whooping 80% of the global smartphone OS market in 2013, according to Gartner Inc.
“We’re thrilled to announce Divide is joining Google”, the startup said in a blog post Monday. “The company was founded with a simple mission: Give people the best mobile experience at work. As part of the Android team, we’re excited to continue developing solutions that our users love.”
Divide, formerly known as Enterproid, will help Google’s Android business gain share in the lucrative enterprise market – a market once controlled by the troubled Canadian-based firm, BlackBerry Ltd (BBRY).
Buying Divide “will help Google build security and control into the Android operating system,” Canalys analyst Chris Jones was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal. “This is a smart move and probably something Google should have done earlier.”
Shares of Google (GOOGL), (GOOG) closed at $538.83 and $528.86 respectively on Monday.
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