Fixed Mobile Convergence

Nokia (News - Alert) hopes to improve Web surfing on its phones by purchasing Novarra.

The mobile-browser and service-platform provider will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Nokia, which is intending to use Novarra (News - Alert)'s mobile Web platform for network operators, device manufacturers, and Internet brands to deliver enhanced Web experiences on its mobile phones.

The value of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, wasn’t disclosed.

Nokia expects to release a new service offering later this year that will utilize Novarra's technology. The goal is to help the handset maker connect consumers to the Internet, primarily on mobile devices based on Nokia's Series 40 platform, which is embedded on hundreds of millions of low-end and mid-tier mobile devices.