WASHINGTON-Federal regulators approved Japanese browser vendor Access Co. Ltd.’s acquisition of Sunnyvale, Calif.-based PalmSource Inc. Access announced earlier this month its plans to buy PalmSource for $324.3 million in cash.
The Federal Trade Commission gave its go-ahead to the deal.
Access sells Internet browsers for electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, personal digital assistants and video-game devices like Sony Corp.’s PSP. Access got its start in the wireless world by supplying i-mode Internet browsers for NTT DoCoMo Inc. phones.
The PalmSource acquisition gives Access a means to expand beyond Internet browsers and into all areas of phone software. The deal also represents a potentially expanded customer base; LG Electronics Co. Ltd. recently licensed the Palm OS, although it has yet to announce any devices.
PalmSource and Access said they expect the acquisition to close by the end of the year.
