Targeting a Mobile Ad Expansion

Marchex Inc. has acquired mobile advertising company Jingle Networks in a $62.5 million cash and stock deal.

With the purchase, Seattle-based Marchex gains Jingle Networks’ voice-search technology and mobile ad network. Marchex says it is positioning itself to be a major player as digital advertising continues to expand to smartphones.

Jingle Networks’ service allows advertising agencies and businesses to leverage in-call advertising, including pay-for-call, to reach customers over the phone or through the use of mobile applications.

The purchase will expand Marchex’s call advertising network into the mobile market and give the Seattle company an annualized reach of over 500 million calls across digital media. Jingle Networks, a California company, counts AT&T, Sprint, and Boost Mobile among its clients.

For more on the deal, go to TechFlash.

Get more business intelligence from Portfolio.com:

• Tax Talk, Expert Tips: From finding the right tax preparer to deciding on the right deductions to audit-proofing your business, check our tax tips for expert advice.
• When Diets Go Viral: Fad diets tend to take off on the wings of personal weight-loss stories, which is why, in the age of Twitter and Facebook, a diet that “goes viral” is a very, very good thing.
• A Groupon Deal on a Three-Bedroom: The coupon craze is going well beyond a deal on a spa or meal. If Groupon's real estate experiment in Chicago goes well, people looking to buy homes may be able to turn to a whole different way to find their dream abodes.