Even though Mailbox for iOS has only been out for a month, it’s taken no time at all for the buzzworthy app to get bought up by a bigger fish.
Dropbox is buying Orchestra Inc., makers of the popular new email app, Mailbox, that allows users to control their email in a new way.
Dropbox announced the acquisition on the company blog this morning. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Dropbox is buying Mailbox in an effort to make products outside its core file-sharing service. Dropbox CEO, Drew Houston, said that his company felt they would be able to get Mailbox to reach “a much different audience much faster.”
“Dropbox doesn’t replace your folders or your hard drive: it makes them better. The same is true with Mailbox, it doesn’t replace your email: it makes it better. Whether it’s your Dropbox or your Mailbox, we want to find ways to simplify your life.
We’re all looking forward to making Mailbox even better and getting it into as many people’s hands as possible.”
Dropbox will keep Mailbox running as a standalone app, which is great news for a lot of iOS users who have waited weeks just to get to try the app. Over time Dropbox will use some of Mailbox’s technology to enhance Dropbox features like email attachements.
It has been expected by many that Dropbox will seek an IPO within the next 24 months. The company is currently valued around $4 billion by investors.
Source: Dropbox
