Samsung buys connected-TVs gaming startup MOVL
Investors in the smart-TV app developer include Mark Cuban. The startup's team is moving to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Samsung has acquired the team behind MOVL, a company that makes entertainment applications for smart TVs, GigaOm reported Monday.
The 2-year-old Atlanta-based company provides apps for TVs by connecting mobile devices with the TVs, often referred to as the "second screen" experience. These include gaming apps Poker Fun and WeDraw, fitness app SmartFitTV, and social video app WeTeli. Its investors include Mark Cuban, Bert Ellis, and Kris Pinto.
Samsung made the deal official last month, but no terms were disclosed, according to GigaOm. The nine-member team is moving to the San Francisco Bay Area.
This purchase lets Samsung beef up its mobile chops for connected TVs. Its smart-TV marketplace already has hundreds of apps, including gaming apps like Angry Birds and video-streaming apps like Amazon Prime Instant Video, but MOVL could help build up the second-screen experience.