LiveWire gets into Groove Mobile for $14.5 million

Managed personalisation services company LiveWire Mobile, a subsidiary of NMS Communications, has snapped up mobile music firm Groove Mobile for $14.5 million. The deal will let Live Mobile add ringback tones, ringtones, full-track music and video downloads to its offerings, which it will deliver through a single storefront to its operator customers.

As well as new music capabilities, Groove Mobile also has some tasty customers: 12 global mobile operator customers including Sprint, 3 UK and Bell Mobility, not to mention relationships with major music labels including EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. According to LiveWire, the addition of Groove means it now has 42 operators on board. Mobile music is among the most mature mobile services, so it sounds like LiveWire has made a sound move in adding tunes to its portfolio.