Mobile ad-exchange Mobclix is rumored to be in acquisition talks, according to a report on TechCrunch over the weekend.
According to “multiple sources,” investment bank Allen & Co. has been hired to broker the deal, which is in “late-stage negotiations” with a publicly-traded company. At this point, little else is known about the possible suitor. It was rumored that both Apple and Microsoft had expressed interest in the startup, yet neither seem to be likely candidates. HP, who has been on a major shopping spree lately, seems likely, but RIM seems to be the most likely in my mind.
RIM is one of the last major mobile device companies that hasn’t scooped up a mobile advertising startup of its own, and back in August, the Wall Street Journal confirmed RIM was actively seeking a mobile ad network to remain competitive with developers for its App World storefront.
Mobclix provides a unique solution by allowing app developers to sign up with their ad inventory and ad networks, like Millennial Media and Jumptap, and bid for the spots based on age, gender, location, and other targeting factors. The ads being served change automatically based on which ad network is bidding the highest to reach the users of that particular app. The startup also lets advertisers buy across a variety of apps based on demographic, geo-targeting, and behavioral characteristics.
Mobclix co-founder Krishna Subramanian isn’t commenting on the acquisition talks, so we’ll likely have to wait until the deal is final before learning more. Stay tuned.