Shutterfly, the photo and personal publishing company founded in 1999, has today acquired Penguin Digital, a company whose flagship product is an iPhone application called Mobile Photo Factory, or just “MoPho” for short. The app allows users to print out physical copies of photos saved in their iPhone’s camera roll and on other social networks like Facebook and Instagram, as well as print those photos onto gifts like bags, key chains, mugs, iPhone cases and more.
Terms of the deal were not immediately available.
In addition to its standalone application, Penguin Digital also offers a developer-facing product with the Penguin SDK. This allows other app makers the ability to integrate the same sort of photo-printing capabilities into their own mobile applications on iOS.
According to Shutterfly, the MoPho mobile application will be rebranded and updated over the next few months and will be added to Shutterfly’s current mobile application line-up which already includes the Shutterfly iPhone and iPad apps as well as the forthcoming birthday card app called Treat. The company has a long history of acquiring startups to help round out its product offerings: back in 2009, it bought a photo-sharing app called Tiny Pictures, which it later used to roll out an iPhone and web app called Wink. In March 2011, it picked up online stationary company called Tiny Prints, which sold cards, invites and photo books. It also has bought Nexco and Photoccino.
And while not a startup, one of Shutterfly’s bigger deals as of late was the March 2012 acquisition of bankrupt-ridden Kodak’s online photo-sharing platform for $23.8 million. Kodak’s network had a user base of 75 million at the time.
“The acquisition of Penguin Digital supports our mobile strategy aimed at giving consumers better ways to engage with their photos and personalize products on the go,” Jeffrey Housenbold, president and CEO of Shutterfly, noted in statement. “We believe it’s important to give consumers the choice and convenience of transforming their memories into high quality products and gifts from their PC, tablet and mobile phone.”
Penguin Digital was started in 2010 and had $1 million in seed funding from N.Y. investors including Globis Capital. Founders Josh Friedman (of PicsCliq) and Reuven Moskowitz, along with the rest of the team, will now join Shutterfly’s tech center in NYC.
Developing…
- SHUTTERFLY
- MOPHO
As long as there have been people, there have been stories. People have always wanted to pass on their memories and share their experiences with those around them. The evolution of digital cameras has made it easier than ever before for people across the world to capture and share their memories in fun and creative new way.
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MoPho is a photo sharing application. MoPho allows users to purchase merchandise with photos included through their iPhone.
The app is owned and operated by Penguin Digital.
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