Microsoft has acquired 6Wunderkinder, the German startup behind the popular to-do app Wunderlist, for an undisclosed amount. An earlier report in the Wall Street Journal estimated the value of the deal at $100 million to $200 million according to an insider with knowledge of the transaction.
Eran Megiddo, general manager of Microsoft OneNote, said Wunderlist “fits squarely with our ambition to reinvent productivity for a mobile-first, cloud-first world,” in a June 2 announcement. Following the recent acquisitions of Sunrise Atelier and Acompli, the deal “further demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to delivering market leading mobile apps across the platforms and devices our customers use—for mail, calendaring, messaging, notes and now tasks,” he continued.
Microsoft snapped up New York-based Sunrise Atelier, provider of the critically lauded Sunrise calendar app for Android and iOS, on Feb. 11. The deal followed the Dec. 1 acquisition of Acompli, the San Francisco mobile email app maker whose code now underpins Microsoft’s new Outlook apps for Android and iOS.
“We have received tremendous customer request for Outlook across all devices, so we are thrilled to fulfill this for our customers,” said Julia White in a statement at the time. “Now, with Outlook, you really can manage your work and personal email on your phone and tablet—as efficiently as you do on your computer.”
Today, Microsoft is turning its attention to mobile task management.
Launched five years ago, Wunderlist has racked up millions of users, according to Christian Reber, founder and CEO of 6Wunderkinder. “Our goal was to build the most delightful, simple and elegant product to help people manage their daily personal and professional to-dos,” he blogged on his company’s Website. “Seeing Wunderlist grow to what it is today—13+ million users, who have collectively created more than 1 billion to-dos—blows my mind.”
Wunderlist for iOS carries the sought-after “Essentials” label and a 4.5-star rating for all versions in Apple’s App Store. On Google Play, the app has a 4.4-star rating and has been crowned an Editors’ Choice.
With Microsoft’s backing and resources, Reber expects Wunderlist’s reach to expand. “Over the next few months as Wunderlist becomes a part of the Microsoft family, we’ll introduce a host of new features, continue growing the ecosystem of partner integrations and progress in delivering Wunderlist to billions of people,” he teased.
For current users, it’s business as usual, said Megiddo. “Customers can expect the app to remain free in all of its existing markets. There will be no price changes for Wunderlist Pro or Wunderlist for Business customers and the service will continue to support a wide range of third-party apps and integrated services.”
Reber said his Berlin-based team “will continue to build and deliver you Wunderlist, Wunderlist Pro and Wunderlist for Business across all platforms—iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Android, Windows Phone, Windows and the Web.” Under Microsoft, Reber expects “to continue to lead the team and product strategy,” he added.
