Motorola scoops up 280 North to bolster Android app development

Motorola (NYSE:MOT) confirmed its acquisition of 280 North, developer of the Cappuccino application framework. Financial details were not disclosed, although TechCrunch reports the deal is valued around $20 million. The open-source Cappuccino project promises developers the tools to deliver desktop-class applications on the web--in an email to TechCrunch, a Motorola spokesperson explains the 280 North acquisition "provides Motorola with specialized web-app engineering talent and technology that will help facilitate the continued expansion of Motorola's application ecosystem. We believe 280 North will be instrumental in helping us continue to foster the Android ecosystem with innovative web-based technologies and applications."

Speaking in late July at the Fortune Tech Brainstorm conference, Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha credited Android with turning around the handset maker's business, and predicted the OS will power the majority of mobile device shipments over the next five years. Earlier this year, Motorola launched Shop4Apps, a new Android application storefront developed for the massive Chinese market. In addition to free and premium Android applications optimized for Motorola smartphones, Shop4Apps--or Zhi-Jian-Yuan, which translates to "Place for Apps Wisdom" in Chinese--heralds the introduction of a new feature enabling users to further customize their devices by selecting their own search provider, with strategic partners including Chinese search kingpin Baidu. Motorola adds it will license Shop4Apps to other Chinese manufacturers and partners.

For more on the Motorola/280 North deal:
- read this TechCrunch article

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