Advertising and PR giant WPP acquired US developer Bottle Rocket Apps, which makes Android and iOS titles for a number of big-name brands.

Bottle Rocket products frequently appear at the top of their categories in the Apple App Store and have won several Apple Hall of Fame awards, the companies said. Clients include ABC News, National Geographic and NBC Universal.

Calvin Carter, owner of Bottle Rocket, said the business will remain separate under his leadership: “We will continue to deliver the quality of work our customers expect from us, but now with much more horsepower, capacity and capabilities.”

WPP said Bottle Rocket, which employs around 170 people in Dallas, Texas, “will work horizontally with other operating companies across WPP”.

WPP has been strengthening its capabilities in digital media and mobile advertising and acquired mobile product development agency Mutual Mobile, also based in Texas, in August.