May 2, 2012 ONLINE AND MOBILE PHOTO SHARING M&A

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about Facebook’s announced acquisition of Instagram for $1 billion. The product nature of the deal was similar to AOL’s acquisition of Hipster, an iOS and Android photo sharing app, for an undisclosed sum. 

What’s not as obvious is that some smaller photo sharing transactions have been occurring as well. For instance, Shutterfly, an Internet-based social expression and publishing service, is planning to acquire Kodak Gallery’s online photo sharing platform for nearly $24 million.

In the month prior to Shutterfly’s announcement, Imaging Spectrum acquired Express Digital Graphics. Express Digital’s products – which include Darkroom Software, Photoreflect.com, and Labtricity – are tailored to professional photographers. Instagram and Hipster, meanwhile, are used by everyday mobile users.  

One interesting mobile app deal, RadiumOne’s acquisition of Focal Labs, occurred in the fourth quarter of 2011. With this transaction, RadiumOne is gaining Clixtr and PicBounce, two apps that allow users to share their photos more easily.