Swedish handset vendor Doro has acquired a company called Birdy Technology to strengthen its presence in the tele-assistance and mhealth market. Doro, which has established itself a vendor of handsets for older people, is moving into the adjacent market of health-related products that can be delivered to the same demographic. The purchase price is EUR1.29 million.

Birdy is a two-person French outfit set up three years ago whose main product is a fixed GSM gateway which connects sensors to a cell centre. The sensors can be attached to an individual to detect if they fall, or to their building, for instance as a smoke alarm. In 2011, Birdy is expected to generate EUR1.2 million in sales. “The acquisition of Birdy Technology represents an opportunity for Doro to strengthen its offer in tele-assistance, forming a solid platform from which to add mHealth services at a later stage,” said Jérôme Arnaud, the vendor’s CEO (pictured).