Research in Motion Buys VC-backed Gist

Research in Motion, which makes the BlackBerry smartphone, has acquired Seattle-based business social networking company Gist for an undisclosed sum, Reuters reported. The deal is designed to help Research in Motion bolster its position against Apple, Google's Android, and the newly announced combination of Nokia and Microsoft. Gist aggregates information on a user's contacts from various social media and news feeds and incorporates it in a consolidated profile, Reuters wrote. Gist had previously raised at least $10 million from Foundry Group and Vulcan Capital.

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