Popular read-it-later app Pocket has been acquired.
Mozilla announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Read It Later, Inc., the developers of the popular app Pocket. This deal means that Pocket will become part of Mozilla’s product portfolio, but Mozilla says that Pocket will be operated as an independent subsidiary and that Mozilla won’t make any changes to the service or business this year.
Here’s what Mozilla CEO Chris Beard had to say about Pocket:
“We believe that the discovery and accessibility of high quality web content is key to keeping the internet healthy by fighting against the rising tide of centralization and walled gardens. Pocket provides people with the tools they need to engage with and share content on their own terms, independent of hardware platform or content silo, for a safer, more empowered and independent online experience.”
Pocket currently has 10 million unique monthly active users spread across Android, iOS, and the web, and there have been three billion pieces of content saved to the service to date.
Mozilla says that the acquisition of Pocket will help it to grow its mobile presence. The company has a few mobile apps already, including a Firefox browser, but they don’t seem to have gained a ton of traction with consumers. Pocket is one of the better-known read-it-later apps and has been in the mobile game for several years, so the Pocket team helps to boost Mozilla’s mobile effort in that way.