Microsoft has unveiled plans to acquire mobile data company MobiComp in a bid to flesh out the services available on Windows Mobile and Windows Live.

MobiComp, which was founded in 2000, will become part of Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business division.

The Portugal-based company is known for a variety of services, including back-up for personal information on mobile phones and update notifications for postings on social networking sites.

MobiComp has also developed an application called Active mTicker which provides news content to mobile users.

"People expect their phones to deliver the best experiences from PCs and the web right to their pockets," said Todd Peters, corporate vice president for Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business.

"Investing in the right solutions from companies like MobiComp will extend the capabilities of Windows Mobile and Windows Live to help us provide the most innovative and seamless way to stay connected."

Microsoft claims that 50 handset makers currently build on the Windows Mobile platform, and that 160 mobile operators in 55 countries carry Windows Mobile phones.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.