Plazes is a German social networking firm

Leading global cellphone company Nokia has agreed to buy social networking firm Plazes. Zurich and Berlin based Plazes, which started operation, recently provides location -aware services that people can use to plan, record, and share their social activities. The total value of the deal is not yet disclosed.

Nokia plans to integrate services of Plazes into its own handsets. Nokia had bought a slew of social networking and media services over the last year, including Twango, Enpocket, Loudeye and then its big buy of mapping company Navteq.

Nokia will be able to extend its context-based service offering with social presence and time-based activity planning features by acquiring Plazes. The new partner will add the elements of “place” and “time” to social networking through features that allow people to alert friends of their activity and location. This will also review their own and others’ past activities. Nokia customers will be able to share their experiences and make plans with friends, who are then able to respond with comments and suggestions as well as their own location information. Nokia is planning to bring out 12 new phones by the year end.

According to Nokia Internet Services head Niklas Savander the new acquisition would help Nokia to accelerate its vision of bringing people and places together. Plazes has been trying to tap into the potential for new services as more mobile phones get equipped with technology to pinpoint their location. The company said that they would invest more money for building up presence in Internet Services.

The co founder of Plazes Felix Petersen said that Nokia has a similar vision of social activity space as Plazes. Both companies would explore opportunites to develop a common platform. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter 2008.

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