NCR snaps up Scottish mobile ticketing specialist Mobiqa
Mobiqa, the Edinburgh-based mobile ticketing firm, has been acquired by the technology multinational NCR Corporation, who have a significant presence in Dundee. Mobiqa, a global pioneer and market leader in the delivery of mobile optimized content, develop software that provides mobile tickets, boarding passes, downloadable applications and coupons in the travel, entertainment and retail sectors.
NCR said the deal, for an undisclosed sum, would establish a "global mobile centre of excellence" in Scotland, which will initially focus on the travel industry, where NCR and Mobiqa expect to realize synergies from their existing solutions. Mobiqa's facility in Edinburgh's Causewayside would complement NCR's existing research and development facility in Dundee, it said.
“This strategic acquisition signals NCR’s commitment to building out our mobile platform to support the delivery of our seamless multichannel strategy,” said John Bruno, executive vice president for NCR. “We are dedicated to making consumers’ experience of interacting with businesses easier by giving them the ability to move seamlessly between self-service mobile, online and kiosk channels.”
Mobiqa is a leader in the delivery of optimized mobile boarding passes to the airline industry. The company is able to deliver content to smartphones and legacy handsets via over 600 mobile networks in over 150 countries worldwide.
Mobiqa uses SMS, MMS, web link and email technologies for barcode delivery to mobile phones and offers fully optimized mobile website content for m-commerce transactions and downloadable applications in the airline, cinema, live events, rail and retail sectors. Its extensive existing customer base stands to benefit from NCR’s continued R&D investment and unrivalled support capabilities on a global basis.
NCR and Mobiqa are both active in global standards organizations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which has mandated the use of barcode boarding passes by airlines globally by the end of 2010.
Formed in 2002, Mobiqa was previously a privately owned company that has received funding from Scottish Enterprise, among other investors. It counts major global brands as its customers, including Qatar Airways, Olympic Air, Aegean, Vueling, Spanair, LOT and Ticketmaster.
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