SF-based mobile advertising firm Amobee has taken strategic minority investments from operators Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) and Telefonica. These investments come after an initial VC round of $5 million from Accel and Sequoia and a second round worth $15 million - $20 million, which also included Globespan Capital Partners. Terms of the new investments were not disclosed.

Two weeks ago, Vodafone Spain announced that it would begin using Amobee’s mobile advertising solution for advertising on its Live portal. Amobee is also being used by Vodafone in Greece and the Czech Republic. Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) said it is investing in and partnering with Amobee because it offers the best solution to “ad-fund” its growing number of mobile data services. Some more details in this FT story as well.

Vodafone release | Telefonica release

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