Nokia snaps up imaging tech with Scalado buy

As the quest for talent and intellectual property continues apace, Nokia has acquired Swedish imaging specialist Scalado, securing itself a royalty revenue stream from the editing, enhancing, viewing and sending of images on mobile devices.

While Scalado itself will continue to exist as an independent entitie, with all its present customer agreements and obligations, the 110 staff, developers, technology and IP will shift to Nokia. The company’s Swedish site, in Lund, will become a centre for Nokia’s imaging software for smartphones.

Scalado was founded in 2000 and has been working with Nokia since 2003. The technology itself helps to manage the hardware layer, like camera sensors, in mobile devices. The company already licenses its IP to the top five tier one mobile phone manufacturers, top ten sensor companies, and most leading platform providers. “As a result, when someone is using a camera phone, it’s very likely that Scalado’s patented imaging platform is onboard,” the company said.

A portfolio of more than 50 patent and patent pending technologies are currently being used in over one billion mobile devices, a figure that is growing with over 500 million devices each year, the company said.

Naturally, such a move would give Nokia a new revenue stream from IP licensing. As a privately held firm Scalado does not reveal its figures, but the company said it has been doubling its revenues year on year since 2007.

Scalado’s latest announcement, made in February, showcased a new technology that allows users to erase unwanted objects from images captured on mobile devices.

The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close during the third quarter of 2012. Terms have not been disclosed.