It’s not a super exit, and it’s not SoundCloud, but we’re getting close.
Panasonic today announced that it has acquired Aupeo, the Berlin-based audio streaming service and technology platform provider behind one of our favorite mobile applications (first reported by GigaOm).
More specifically, Panasonic Corporation of North America and its division company Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America have acquired Aupeo for its ‘connected car’ product expertise.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, unfortunately.
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Founded in 2008, Aupeo basically delivers online content services to Internet-connected devices. Its acquisition, Panasonic argues, will “further enhance the leading-edge technology and customer relationship tools Panasonic is able to offer its automotive customers”.
Aupeo partners include car makers such as BMW/Mini and Mercedes-Benz as well as home entertainment companies like Philips, Pioneer, Sonos, Toshiba and Onkyo.
The news of the acquisition comes mere months after Panasonic announced a ‘strategic collaboration’ with Aupeo to bring optimized personal streaming music to cars, although their relationship goes back a few years.
Tom Gebhardt, President of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America and thus holder of perhaps the longest title ever, pitches the acquisition this way:
“There is a considerable need for a connected and personalized media content platform that enables consumers to access content on any device while also enabling businesses to have a richer relationship with their customers.
Conventional consumer-focused music and content services do not address all the needs of car manufacturers. Aupeo’s technologies and content delivery platform provide a solution that is complementary to Panasonic’s automotive, business-to-business and business-to-consumer product lines.”
Aupeo is said to be licensed to operate streaming services in more than 40 countries, offering consumers more than 6,000 channels of terrestrial radio, podcast streaming and other services.
Aupeo CEO Holger Weiss told GigaOm that the 20-person company will remain in Berlin as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, and will keep its name and continue to provide its consumer apps and services. Woohoo!
Image credit: TORU YAMANAKA for AFP / Getty Images
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