Being a technology company in Dallas has quite a few advantages. One of which is intimately knowing other Dallas-based companies, such as Handango. Quickoffice has worked with Handango for years and we actually were awarded ‘Developer of the Year’ from Handango in the past. The news that the company was just acquired is fantastic, on multiple fronts.

First, congrats to the Handango team. They’ve got great talent and it’s nice to see a local company receive recognition from a strong business like PocketGear. Second, the move highlights a bigger trend in the mobile space: the evolution of app stores. The new combined company will create the world’s largest cross-platform app store, serving Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm, Linux and Java powered mobile devices.

The emergence of Apple’s iPhone and the iTunes store truly created a shift in how consumers want to purchase and consume their mobile applications. The simplicity of getting apps using the App Store has been tough to replicate but a necessity for those looking to serve the content marketplace. Seeing an opportunity to create the experience for users that don’t have an iPhone, PocketGear’s purchase makes a lot of sense. We’re excited to see what happens in 2010 and look forward to continuing our relationship with Handango and PocketGear.