Sprint has acquired app development and distribution player Handmark and its “socially powered apps” subsidiary OneLouder Apps, in order to bolster the US operator’s existing Pinsight Media+ advertising arm.

Sprint said that OneLouder “immediately infuses Pinsight Media+ with an experienced advertising team, a sophisticated ad platform and to-rated mobile apps that serve millions of customers each day”.

It also said that OneLouder’s apps and technology platform, combined with Sprint’s customer base and targeting capabilities, “will enhance both companies’ abilities to connect brands with relevant audiences”.

In a blog post, Evan Conway, president of OneLouder, said: “Supporting world-class apps takes lots of time and money. Necessity caused us to build our own mobile advertising technology and operations in order to effectively monetise our apps, which made us attractive to a variety of players.”

Handmark and OneLouder will continue to operate under their current brand names, and will remain in the same offices “with all current employees”.

Handmark established OneLouder Apps in July 2011, in order to drive its development of social apps across mobile platforms.

Handmark subsequently spun-out its mobile publishing business, which had launched 250 mobile apps for publishers worldwide.