Spice Digital acquires 26% stake in SMS-based search engine Txtbrowser maker Vavia

Spice Digital Ltd (formerly Cellebrum Technologies), a subsidiary of public listed Spice Mobility (formerly S Mobility), has acquired 26 per cent stake in Bangalore-based tech solution firm Vavia Technologies Pvt Ltd, for an undisclosed amount as per a stock market announcement.

"Vavia will develop web based products and solutions which will benefit customers of both the companies," the company said.

Vavia was founded in 2008 by Alan D'Souza, who has more than 10 years of experience in web applications, identity design, branding and digital marketing. With a portfolio spanning infotainment, messaging and other content-rich mobile solutions, the firm enables telecom companies to enhance customer experience and accelerate revenue growth. Its mobility solutions are deployed across a number of countries in the Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

On the consumer side, it offers SMS-based search engine service called Txtbrowser and an anonymous social network app, called Confess, which allows users to share secret confessions with their connections and groups without any inhibitions. This month, it had also added SMS-based navigation & e-mail services that enable users to get navigations (route directions).

D'Souza had earlier said that the company is in advanced talks with a few investors for seed funding.

For Spice Mobility this deal is another step to diversify its presence as a mobile internet firm against its core business of selling mobile handsets.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)