Random House Buys Digital Agency

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/random-house-buys-digital-agency/?nl=business&emc=dlbka22
Random House has acquired Smashing Ideas, a digital media agency, in an effort to strengthen its digital publishing side, the publisher said on Thursday.
The acquisition “further signals the intention of Random House and its parent company to be leaders in digital content creation, and demonstrates their commitment to expanding revenues from mobile and interactive online products and services,” according to a statement from Random House.
Publishers have experimented with mobile applications with book content, but have struggled to market the apps to readers.
Smashing Ideas has worked with Random House in the past to develop mobile applications for children’s books, including “Pat the Bunny” and “Wild About Books.” It will continue to focus on children’s books, as well as reference, lifestyle and educational titles.

Founded 15 years ago, Smashing Ideas creates games, branded sites and applications for smartphones, tablets and other devices. It has served clients including Disney, PBS, Mattel and Nickelodeon, and added an e-publishing unit in 2010. Random House declined to disclose the terms of the deal.