Motorola MOTOBLUR to get wireless sync & media streaming with ZumoCast acquisition

Motorola has acquired Zecter, and plans to use its ZumoCast and ZumoDrive cloud-based media streaming and content sync technology to boost MOTOBLUR's digital entertainment credentials. Although the exact details of the new integration are yet to be announced, Motorola expects to add wireless syncing, desktop integration, video transcoding and thin-file retrieval technologies to both individual devices and its MOTOBLUR Android UI layer. Currently ZumoCast has only been available on iOS devices like the iPad, not on Android.

Existing ZumoCast users can continue to use the service and will get future updates as expected; however new sign-ups have been frozen. The acquisition won't affect ZumoDrive, which is still available to new users. Motorola's shift in MOTOBLUR development follows HTC's evolution of its Sense system to support an online tracking and remote-access section; in a market where Android is on multiple devices, it's a way to better differentiate your particular flavor of product.

[via BGR]

Press Release:

Motorola Mobility Acquires Zecter

Acquisition to Enhance Motorola Mobility with Personal Cloud Server and Synch Technologies

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Motorola Mobility, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), today announced that it has acquired Zecter, Inc., a leading start-up with synchronization and streaming technologies for on-demand digital media consumption. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Zecter's solutions connect users to their content seamlessly and instantaneously, giving them simple, on-the-go access to music, video, photos and documents from their smartphones, tablets, PCs and web-portals. Zecter currently has two products commercially available: ZumoDrive, for cloud-based content sync, access and sharing; and ZumoCast, for personal media streaming to any device. Both products use innovative virtual file system technologies to make any personal content instantly available even if it is not stored locally.

Zecter will further enhance Motorola Mobility's mobile content experience and MOTOBLUR service offering by enabling consumers to enjoy their digital content across their mobile devices, wherever they are. Motorola Mobility will integrate Zecter's wireless syncing, desktop integration, video transcoding and thin-file retrieval technologies across its device and MOTOBLUR offerings to provide consumers with real-time access to their content.

"Consumers want seamless access to their content and media from wherever they are, while content providers want to ensure that content remains protected and secure," said Christy Wyatt, corporate vice president of software and services, Motorola Mobility. "We believe that Zecter enables that seamless experience with the necessary security measures, and we are delighted to be able to work with this team."

Wyatt added, "Zecter's robust team brings multi-platform expertise along with compelling solutions for continuous digital media access across multiple platforms. Zecter is an exciting addition to our MOTOBLUR service platform and we welcome their highly skilled personnel to the Motorola Mobility team."

As part of the transition, the distribution of Zecter's ZumoCast software will be suspended while enhancements are made. Existing ZumoCast users may continue to enjoy the service without interruption. Motorola Mobility will provide regular updates for ZumoCast users as well as exciting future plans for this service. The ZumoDrive solution will be unaffected.