Report: Motricity plans major layoffs

Motricity is slashing roughly one-third of its workforce and considering moving its headquarters, according to a report from WRAL.com citing multiple sources.
The Durham, N.C.-based mobile content company will eliminate roughly 200 jobs as it streamlines operations following the recent $135 million acquisition of InfoSpace Inc.’s mobile business, news reports indicate. And Motricity may move from Durham to Bellevue, Wash., where InfoSpace’s mobile division is housed.
A Motricity spokesman declined to comment immediately, saying the company would respond by Monday afternoon. But the firm had yet to release an official statement as of Tuesday morning.
While such a move may be surprisingly drastic, many observers expected layoffs from Motricity following the InfoSpace acquisition. And the company has a turbulent history in the volatile mobile content space, cutting 50 jobs a year ago even as it announced a $60 million round of financing.
Motricity in 2006 picked up GoldPocket Wireless Inc., a transaction broker that provides technology for mobile voting campaigns and other TV-based applications, for an undisclosed sum. The company has raised more than $350 million in venture capital to date including at least $50 million from Carl Icahn, but has struggled to keep key executives.
CEO Ryan Wuerch has helped build an impressive customer base, however. Motricity’s customers include 11 of the top 13 carriers in North America as well as content companies MTV, NBC and Warner Music Group.