Mobile learning tech firm, EmpoweredU, has been acquired by Qualcomm

San Diego-based Qualcomm is expanding its efforts in the education sector today, saying that it has acquired EmpoweredU, a developer of mobile learning technology for the K-20 market. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. EmpoweredU was headed by Steve Poizner, who has been very active in California’s Charter School movement. Qualcomm said the move would help it accelerate mobile innovation and help provide 24/7 access in education with its mobile tools. EmpoweredU’s flagship customer has been UCLA, letting around 1,000 UCLA faculty and students access course materials on their mobile phones and tablets.

Qualcomm has acquired EmpoweredU to boost its portfolio of education-related tools and software. Announced on Wednesday, the US-based chipmaker said the integration of EmpoweredU technology with other Qualcomm initiatives will “accelerate mobile innovation and 24/7 learning into education — providing institutions, students and parents access to best-in-class education tools.” EmpoweredU is a provider of mobile-centric cloud-based learning environments. Founded in 2011, the California-based company begun by creating a platform for the University of California, Los Angeles, and the result was the EmpoweredU Learning Platform, which is designed to be accessed by students anywhere at any time, across multiple operating systems, the Web and mobile devices. Content is synchronized across the platform, and combined with real-time mobile learner analytics, instructors can keep up-to-date in course content as well as access realtime information on student and class performance. The financial details of the deal between EmpoweredU and the buying party, a subsidiary of the chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies, were not disclosed.