Media Measuring Companies Join Forces

Web measuring giant comScore has acquired M:Metrics, a company specializing in research on cell phone use.

comScore announced the deal this afternoon. It’ll continue M:Metrics’ major services — MobiLens, a monthly online survey of cell phone patterns; MeterDirect, an actual on-device meter that measures usage in participating customers; and M:Ad, a tracking service for mobile monitoring. comScore plans to expand the number of cell phone users participating in the MeterDirect program.

“With the substantial growth of 3G devices and Internet friendly handsets, we believe we are now at an inflection point in internet usage on mobile devices,” comScore President and CEO Dr. Magid Abraham said in a prepared statement.

“Our acquisition of M:Metrics makes comScore an immediate market leader in this space and positions comScore to deliver significant shareholder value as wireless carriers, telecom equipment providers, media companies, advertising agencies, online publishers, and marketers extend their reach into the mobile Internet world.”

M:Metrics co-founders Will Hodgman and Seamus McAteer will move over to comScore as managers.

The deal is worth just over $44 million.