Zokem

Zokem Oy, founded in Espoo, Finland, in 2008 by Dr. Hannu Verkasalo, established itself as a provider of mobile audience measurement and analytics. The company specialized in delivering a comprehensive perspective on mobile consumers through passive on-device measurements. Its core business involved providing custom and syndicated mobile research panels, mobile media measurement tools, and software for mobile device tracking. This technology allowed clients to monitor and understand consumer usage of mobile devices and media, offering insights into network performance and the effectiveness of mobile advertising campaigns.

The company's clients spanned various industries, including marketing research, wireless, internet, and media. Zokem operated by creating opt-in mobile research panels in 14 markets globally, conducting custom research for purposes like product development and consumer insights. This model enabled companies that partnered with Zokem to monetize consumer data. The firm held partnerships with major industry players such as China Mobile and Nokia Siemens Networks.

A significant milestone in Zokem's history was its acquisition by Arbitron Inc. in July 2011. The deal was valued at approximately $11.7 million in cash at closing, with the potential for an additional $12 million in incremental payments based on future financial performance through 2014. Following the acquisition, Zokem was rebranded as Arbitron Mobile. Dr. Hannu Verkasalo, Zokem's founder and CEO, continued to lead the new division. This strategic acquisition was intended to bolster Arbitron's capabilities in mobile audience measurement and support its cross-platform initiatives by integrating Zokem's mobile technology and international presence with Arbitron's expertise in survey methodology and media measurement panels.

Keywords: mobile analytics, audience measurement, consumer data, mobile research, device tracking, media measurement, ad effectiveness, data monetization, panel research, network performance