Arbitron buys Finnish mobile measurement firm Zokem, makes it "Arbitron Mobile"

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

Arbitron buys Finnish mobile measurement firm Zokem, makes it "Arbitron Mobile"

Arbitron will pay $11.7 million for the company initially, with additional payments of up to $12 million over the next three years. The acquisition means Arbitron’s foothold in measuring the world of mobile media, primarily by way of smart phones, will grow internationally. It will use Zokem's technology as the basis for the "Arbitron Mobile division." Arbitron explains that “Zokem provides custom and syndicated mobile research panels, plug-and play mobile media measurement tools and software building blocks for mobile device tracking to the leading companies in the marketing research, wireless, Internet, media and marketing industries.” Arbitron CEO Bill Kerr says "The acquisition of Zokem enhances the mobile measurement capabilities we gained through our previous purchase of the IMMI technology assets, and through the continuing development of our PPM technology, Zokem also provides Arbitron with valuable new resources for our growing cross-platform initiatives." 

Arbitron says the purchase of Zokem will reduce its full-year 2011 earnings per share by 7 cents to 9 cents - though it reiterates its guidance of between $1.90 to $2.05 per share.