Snaptu raises $6M to make Java phones more iPhone-like

Snaptu, a company promising to bring a high-end application experience to low-end phones, said today that it has raised $8 million in a second round of funding.

Backed by high-profile venture firm Sequoia Capital, Snaptu offers a free application that is supposed to work on any phone that runs Java (that’s more than 2,000 devices total, the company says). That app, in turn, includes a catalog of other apps, such as a Facebook app, a Twitter app, a news reader app, and more. The idea is that everyone can get the application experience that the iPhone has popularized.

[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":192920,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"business,entrepreneur,mobile,","session":"D"}']

In addition to announcing the funding, Tel Aviv, Israel-headquartered Snaptu said it has passed the 10 million user mark.

The new round was led by Carmel Ventures. Sequoia, which previously contributed an undisclosed amount of funding, also participated.

Don’t miss MobileBeat 2010, VentureBeat’s conference on the future of mobile. The theme: “The year of the superphone and who will profit.” Now expanded to two days, MobileBeat 2010 will take place on July 12-13 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Register now. Tickets are going quickly. For complete conference details, or to apply for the MobileBeat Startup Competition, click here.