The GSMA said it is to integrate “the major programmes and initiatives” of the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC) into its operations, with API specialist Apigee acquiring the technology assets of WAC.

Apigee said it will “develop and evolve” the WAC Web Run Time and network APIs, and will provide these assets as a managed service to the GSMA and its mobile operator members. In a statement, it said it intends to build on the WAC technology to offer “a unified network API service for telecommunications operators as well as a cross-device mobile app development platform.”

Earlier this year, WAC launched its Payment API, an operator billing service that enables customers to pay for digital goods via their phone bill or prepaid credit. This has launched or is in trials with companies including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, KT, LG U+, SK Telecom, Smart Communications, Telefonica and Telenor, and is in development with a further 12 operators.

The WAC Payment API already runs on the Apigee API platform.

The WAC Web Run Time has been enabled on approximately 12 million devices to date, with support from operators including KT, LG U+, SK Telecom and Smart Communications.

Michel Combes, chairman of WAC, said: “We are very proud of the work that the team has done in developing and incubating an open, web-based platform that can run applications and utilise network APIs across multiple devices and operating systems. Now we are excited to move on to the next stage of our development with the GSMA and their ability to make this technology available to their 800 operator members worldwide.”

Chet Kapoor, CEO of Apigee, said: "The WAC acquisition is part of our strategy to expand our offerings to include complete, industry-specific solutions. WAC successfully launched API technology that has the potential to dramatically accelerate the pace of mobile app innovation across heterogeneous platforms and mobile operators."

Apigee has built up some momentum as a partner to telecoms companies, working with Telefonica Digital and its BlueVia developer effort, AT&T, as well as KT, Telenor and Vodafone.