Apigee today announced that it has acquired the technology assets of WAC (Wholesale Applications Community), a global alliance of leading telecommunications companies focused on creating a unified and open platform for mobile application development.
Apigee will build on WAC's technology to deliver a unified network API service for telecommunications operators as well as a cross-device mobile app development platform.
In a related announcement, the GSMA today announced a partnership with Apigee to provide Apigee's services to the nearly 800 mobile operators who are members of GSMA. The GSMA is a global association that unites and represents the interests of the world's leading mobile operators.
Apigee's new technology services for the telecommunications industry are aimed at making it easier for software developers to create powerful mobile apps that work across all telecommunications networks.
"The WAC acquisition is part of our strategy to expand our offerings to include complete, industry-specific solutions," said Chet Kapoor, Apigee CEO. "WAC successfully launched API technology that has the potential to dramatically accelerate the pace of mobile app innovation across heterogeneous platforms and mobile operators. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to provide a global service that builds on and delivers the vision of WAC to the telecommunications industry."
WAC's network offering has been the WAC Payment API, which enables customers to pay for digital goods via their operator bill. With the WAC Payment API, developers can easily monetize their applications across a range of platforms and technologies using a reliable, cross-operator billing service that has run on the Apigee API platform. Today, the WAC Payment API is in deployment with leading operators including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, KT, LGU+, SK Telecom, Smart Communications, Telefónica and Telenor, and is in development with an additional 12 operators.
"Since it launched earlier this year, the WAC Payment API has run on the Apigee API platform, so this move is a natural extension of our already close partnership with Apigee," said Peters Suh, CEO of WAC. "And, Apigee is an industry leader with API's and they will now build on thiss to deliver important solutions for all operators and developers."
Apigee will also continue to develop and provide WAC's mobile app platform, the Web Run Time, which enables developers to build applications that run on any device and on any operator network.
Apigee helps businesses develop, deliver and manage APIs and the apps built on them. Apigee's API platform reduces the complexity of delivering APIs, drives developer adoption, provides comprehensive analysis and control of API usage, and helps businesses scale as API channels grow.
This news supports Apigee's momentum in the telecommunications industry, where companies including AT&T, KT, Telefonica, Telenor and Vodafone have adopted Apigee's API platform.