MobileMonday Global

Finnish venture capital market declined in 2009

11 Feb 2010 at 02:11 GMT Investments in Finnish high-tech companies dropped 60 percent from 2008, reflecting a 30.6 percent decline in the overall investment activity. Fifty-eight companies tracked by Technopolis Online received funding worth 101 million euros. Investment activity last year remained higher than expected, but investors stayed away from larger investments like the WinWind and Blyk deals that contributed 160 million euros to the market in 2008.

MobileMonday to launch chapters in Africa

09 Feb 2010 at 15:00 GMT MobileMonday has announced the opening of chapters in Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya. The Kampala chapter opens its doors on March 8, and the Nairobi chapter launches on March 11. A new South African chapter will also open in Capetown. After over a year of background work, the global organization formed a partnership with the World Bank to take the commmunity's concepts to several African countries.

MoMo founders in MWC 2010 Barcelona

08 Feb 2010 at 22:35 GMT In addition to their usual prowling activities on the tradeshow floor, MobileMonday members will have the rare chance to meet many of MoMo's founders at their meeting point in Hall 2, Stand C28. The number of MoMo members, who visit the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, have continued to grow in the past two years.

FinnMob and IMA Form Alliance

05 Feb 2010 at 20:09 GMT FinnMob (Finnish Mobile Association) and IMA (Israel Mobile and Communications Association) have agreed to jointly promote their portfolio companies. The associations reprepresent over 200 companies operating in the mobile industry, and aim to offer faster access by global operators, handset and network vendors, and investors to mobile products developed in Finland and Israel.

Gemalto acquires mobile authentication company Valimo Wireless

03 Feb 2010 at 13:22 GMT French digital security firm Gemalto has bought the Finnish mobile authentication firm Valimo Wireless. The companies did not disclose the terms of the transaction. The acquisition provides Gemalto a position in the growing mobile financial services market.

Mobile operators use Valimo's software to authenticate financial transactions made through mobile phones. The software is installed in mobile phone SIM cards. Valimo turned profitable last year, and had annual net sales of about 3 million euros.