Motorola buys Germany's mobile software maker Aloqa GmbH

Motorola, the $22-billion mobile handset maker today said that it has acquired Germany's Aloqa GmbH, a privately-held start-up and leading developer of location-based software and technologies, for an undisclosed sum.

Aloqa's software and technologies are designed to allow the discovery of relevant web content by mobile smartphone users. It utilises the user's location, identity and social relationships to proactively inform them of places, events and bargains.

If Aloqa's software recognises the user is in a certain region, it will offer the user the top events of the day or special offers of leading discounters in the vicinity.

Aloqa, which has a million users globally, distributes its product as a mobile application for smartphone platforms, including Android, and more than one million users have already downloaded its software.

Aloqa has joined Motorola Mobility, which is comprised of Motorola's Mobile Devices and Home businesses.

Motorola Mobility, which comprises the company's set-top box and mobile handset businesses is expected to be spun off from Motorola, in the first quarter of 2011, as announced by the Illinois-based company in July 2010. (See: Motorola outlines break-up plans, renames companies)