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Kik Spy Snaps up video chat app maker Rounds for a reported $60-$80 million Messaging company Kik has made its second major acquisition after it scooped up Israel-based mobile video app maker Rounds in an undisclosed deal. Though neither part is providing a cost, you would suppose it is more than what Kik payed for GIF Relay, its first acquisition from 2014, considering that Rounds had lifted over $20 million from shareholders and stated 40 million new users. Kik features over 300 million users and it is well-liked by teenagers. It generally does not disclose monthly user numbers however, many reports have pegged its engagement alongside that of Snapchat. Kik CEO Ted Livingston dropped to provide us a cost, but local mass media in Israeli reported it is around $60-$80 million. It's good to state that Kik has that kind of money to invest. It has brought up $120 million at this point, including its latest $50 million increase from China's Tencent at a $1 billion valuation, and maintains costs low when you are positioned in Canada. Also certain is the fact the offer will immediately bolster Kik's technical team. The Canadian company is acquiring all 35 personnel from Rounds, and turning its Tel Aviv office into a Kik product and anatomist centre, and its own first international bottom. Kik, which is headquartered in Waterloo, said that it includes opened an identical bottom part in Toronto, too. Those enhancements take Kik's total headcount to 165 personnel, however the company said it is positively selecting for additional personnel. Interestingly, both companies didn't await this package before combining makes. A Kik agent proved to us that Rounds was in charge of the technology behind Kik's new video recording chat feature, that was launched out in Dec. So it appears like we can get more video features to roll out soon. "The team at Rounds is aware developing products that produce talk fun and entertaining for our teenage audience. The ongoing company has quite strong product and anatomist experience, and we're thrilled to join makes to attain our goal of earning chat the central hub for everyday activity," Livingston said in a declaration. Founded in '09 2009, Rounds offered a distinctive experience at the right time -- allowing up to 12 visitors to take part in live talk, with the choice to do things such as doing offers, reading stories plus more collectively. That's now a hot space, with startups like Houseparty (formerly Meerkat) needs to remove with teenagers, which does climb questions as to the reasons Rounds has been sold see more on http://kikhack.us/ . “We saw Kik as the perfect partner to expand our reach to such a vast audience” gushed Rounds CEO and co-founder Dany Fishel in a canned comment. “It’s rare when two companies share a similar culture and vision of connecting people through fun, meaningful experiences, and we’re eager to build the next great platform together,” Fishel added.