The developers of Blink, a messaging app that could be programmed to destroy messages, are moving to Yahoo to work on communications products.
The app for both Android and iOS will be shut down over the next few weeks, the team said in a blog post Tuesday.
The Blink team said it built its secret messaging app, which destroyed messages including videos after a set period of time, because it believed “everyone should be free to show the same honesty and spontaneity in their online conversations as they can in person.”
“We look forward to the possibilities that will come from bringing the Blink vision to Yahoo,” they added.
“I can confirm that the entire team behind Blink and Kismet will be joining our mobile team in Sunnyvale where they will focus on smart communication products,” a Yahoo spokeswoman said. She did not disclose whether Yahoo had acquired the company or just brought over the staff. “The team is joining Yahoo and we are not acquiring the product,” she wrote via email. “We’re not going to comment on deal structure beyond that.”
Kismet is a location-based social networking app also developed by Blink developers Meh Labs.
Attracting the teams of startups to the company has been a key element of Yahoo’s acquisition strategy. The Internet giant has made a string of small acquisitions since Marissa Mayer became CEO in 2012, which by some estimates could be around 40.
Blink rival Snapchat entered into an agreement last week with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to settle charges that it had deceived consumers by making false promises about the disappearing nature of messages sent through its app.
Updated at 10:30 a.m. PT to include a more detailed comment from Yahoo.