Twitter Inc (TWTR) Strengthens Mobile Strategy, Acquires Cover

Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) demonstrated that it is serious in strengthening its mobile strategy particularly on mobile devices powered by the Android operating system of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) through its acquisition of Cover, the maker of lock screen app.

The co-founders of Cover namely Tod Jackson, Goddon Luk, and Edward Ho announced that Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is acquiring their company in a blog post today.

According to them, the management of the popular microblogging company shared their belief that there is an incredible potential in Android. Cover and Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) also share a similar vision that “smartphone can be a lot smarter, more useful, and more contextual.

“Together we’re going to make that happen. We’ll be building upon a lot of what makes Cover great, and we’re thrilled to create something even better at Twitter,” wrote Jackson, Luk and Ho.

The co-founders said the Cover Lock Screen app will remain at the Play Store of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) while focusing their attention on their job at Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR). Jackson, Luk, and Ho said they will provide further update on Cover’s website if there are changes in the future.

With regard to the terms of the acquisition, Cover’s co-founders did not provide any detail about it. No information was also discussed as to how Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) will integrate their technology to its overall mobile strategy.

Observers in the technology industry believed that the acquisition of Cover will boost the mobile strategy of Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR). They noted that the lock screen app maker managed to obtain hundreds of thousands of users in just a few months since its launching in October last year.

With Cover’s lock screen app, the microblogging company will have the advantage of staying in front of the lock screen of every smartphone or tablet powered by Android. Take note that there too many apps available in the market today, and more 75% of the members of Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) use mobile devices to access its service. The mobile blogging company also generates more revenue from mobile than desktop.

Earlier this month, Sara Haider, one of the top engineers of Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) who worked on Android left to join Secret, a startup that created the app allowing users to share messages anonymously.  Aside from Haider, Cayley Torgeson, the head of the microblogging site’s analytics also resigned.