Microsoft gobbles up Danger, maker of the Sidekick mobile software

Microsoft Corp has agreed to acquire Danger, a Silicon Valley company that makes the software for the Sidekick and other mobile devices, for an undisclosed amount.

Danger has worked away for ten years on its device software, and recently filed for an IPO, which we termed as risky (see our piece The Danger-ous IPO), because Danger has not been as open as trends would suggest it should be, and it’s difficult to see how it could really thrive on its own. It is still losing money. The IPO route has become even more risky, given the downturn in the market, and also because household budgets (upon which Danger relies) might continue to tighten.

The acquisition is somewhat surprising because because Danger has operated a platform independent of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile. However, Microsoft said that Danger’s youthful audience and popular entertainment offerings make it attractive. Microsoft is also feeling pressure from the iPhone’s raging success and from Google’s emerging Android project.

Danger’s software offers HTML Web browsing, instant messaging, games, multimedia, social networking, Web e-mail and personal information management applications. Microsoft said wants to combine these services with Microsoft’s technologies, “including MSN, Xbox, Zune, Windows Live and Windows Mobile,” but it was vague about exactly how it plans to do so.

From Microsoft’s statement:

“The addition of Danger serves as a perfect complement to our existing software and services, and also strengthens our dedication to improving mobile experiences centered around individuals and what they like.”

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company provides services that allow people to keep in touch, stay organized and keep informed while on the go through real-time mobile messaging, social networking services and other applications ― all blended together on a single phone that is intuitive and customizable.

“Danger continues to provide an effortless and fun mobile experience for consumers,” said Henry R. Nothhaft, chairman and CEO of Danger Inc. “Now by combining our uncompromised application software and powerful back-end service with Microsoft, we can expand our innovative service offerings even further and take mobility to a new level.”

Danger was previously backed by $134 million, coming from players like Redpoint Ventures, Mobius VC and T-Mobile Venture Fund, Adams Street Partners, Deutsche Telekom, Diamondhead Ventures, inOvate Communications Group, Institutional Venture Partners, Meritech Capital Partners, Orange Ventures, Softbank Capital Partners and VSP Capital.