Twitter buys Indian mobile startup ZipDial

Twitter has announced its acquisition of ZipDial, a mobile marketing startup that allows users to access advertisements and promotions on their cellphones without using the internet. The deal reportedly cost between $30 and $40 million.

ZipDial lets consumers interested in companies dial their numbers and hang up before the call is connected. ZipDial then sends text messages, app notifications, and phone calls with advertisements to the users. Since the initial call counts as a "missed call," users aren't billed for contacting the business. The Wall Street Journal reports that ZipDial's campaigns have reached almost 60 million users, the majority of whom are in India.

"For many, their first online experience will be on a mobile device — but the cost of data may prevent them from experiencing the true power of the Internet," Twitter said in a statement. "Twitter, in partnership with ZipDial, can make great content more accessible to everyone."

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