Continuing its push into the mobile consumer market, Microsoft announced that it plans to acquire Danger, the developer of software and services that run the Sidekick.
Danger’s operating system and applications work in tandem with backend servers to offer services such as games, social networking, Internet access, Web e-mail and instant messaging. T-Mobile’s Sidekick, manufactured by Sharp, is perhaps the best known Danger device.
Microsoft did not disclose financial terms of the deal or say if it planned to continue to support the Danger mobile operating system, since Microsoft has its own mobile operating system in Windows Mobile.
However, Microsoft indicated that it has plans for Danger’s technology beyond mobile phones. In a statement, Microsoft suggested it could combine Danger’s services with MSN, Xbox, Zune, Windows Live and Windows Mobile. In addition, Microsoft said that Danger would join its Entertainment and Devices Division, not specifically the Windows Mobile group, which is in that division.
Microsoft has recently indicated that it is trying to attract more consumers to Windows Mobile, which the market views as primarily a business tool. It recently hired a new executive to focus on consumer marketing and the Danger buy could help it acquire consumer customers.