SoundBite acquires a text-messaging company

SoundBite Communications Inc., of Bedford, which makes automated calling systems used in collections, has acquired the mobile text-messaging company Mobile Collect Inc., of Rochester Hills, Mich.

Mobile Collect specializes in delivering text messages to mobile phones at no charge to the recipient. Auto repair companies, advertisers, and debt collectors use the service to contact mobile phone users.

SoundBite will pay $500,000 for Mobile Collect and may pay additional fees of up to $2 million, depending on the revenue generated by the text-messaging business.
(By Hiawatha Bray, Globe staff)