HTC have opened their corporate purse and bought Abaxia, a French firm that specialises in creating customised software for operators and cellphone device manufacturers. The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, but the two companies have worked together previously; Abaxia currently offer several homescreen UI packages, which integrate carrier logos, identity and services into device OSes, pull mobile search into the homescreen, and – with their “Open Platform” – can push data, such as adverts, social networking information or live web content, to idle screens.
Abaxia also work across all the platforms HTC currently uses, and more, including Android, Windows Mobile and Java (together with iPhone OS and webOS). The two firms are yet to suggest what exactly the new expertise will do to future HTC devices, beyond HTC CEO Peter Chou saying it will allow them to “innovate at an even faster pace.”
Back in 2008, HTC acquired design firm One & Co, who went on to shape the brand identity of headline devices like the HTC Hero. In the meantime, HTC produced Sense, a UI and interface product that they use as a value-add on top of generic platforms like Android. Abaxia’s expertise at the “front screen” of mobile devices looks likely to better shape homescreen UIs on future HTC phones.