eBuddy, the Dutch software company specializing in mobile and Web-based messaging services, has been acquired by accommodation booking platform and fellow Netherlands company Booking.com.
In an announcement earlier today, eBuddy revealed it had entered into an ‘acqui-hire’ agreement, which pretty much means eBuddy will be shuttering as its employees jump on board at Booking.com. The company says:
“For over 9 years we have been offering Chat and messaging products for hundreds of millions of users worldwide. Together with Booking.com we are excited to add our experience and enthusiasm to their team in Amsterdam. We really enjoyed the years of building great eBuddy products and are very excited participating in building out Booking.com’s great product.”
Last year, Japanese mobile and social gaming juggernaut GREE took a strategic minority stake in eBuddy, with eBuddy subsequently designing a new messaging app for GREE. But that app was pulled back in August as part of cost-cutting measures, which also saw Gree close its office in China and lay-off 120 staff. It was rumored that the initial investment would lead to a full-on acquisition but, alas, GREE’s struggles evidently quashed any plans on that front.
There’s no indication as of yet what the eBuddy team will be working on for Booking.com, but we’ve reached out to verify this, and clarify when it will be pulling its services. We’ll update here as soon as we hear back.
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