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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Snapchat is reportedly acquiring the maker of a cartoon "emoji" app [wsj.com] for $100 million:

Messaging startup Snapchat Inc. has agreed to pay more than $100 million in cash and stock to acquire Bitstrips Inc., the maker of popular virtual-sticker application Bitmoji, according to two people familiar with the deal.

The Bitmoji app lets users create customized cartoon avatars that look like them, and then send them using a special smartphone keyboard. The app, initially launched in October 2014, has surged in popularity, never falling out of the coveted rankings of the top 100 apps in Apple Inc.'s app store at any point this year, according to App Annie. Several celebrities such as actors Seth Rogen and Lena Dunham use the app.

Snapchat, which rarely makes acquisitions, may be stepping up its deal making to compete with Facebook Inc., a growing rival in the fun and funky world of filters and add-ons for mobile messaging. Facebook earlier this month acquired Masquerade Technologies Inc., the maker of an app that lets users enhance videos through filters and the ability to "swap" faces with others in the picture.

Also at LA Times [latimes.com], TechCrunch [techcrunch.com].

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