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Xoom acquires BlueKite for cross-border bill pay

San Francisco-based digital money transfer provider Xoom has acquired BlueKite for $15 million in cash and equity. Guatemala City-based BlueKite has built a technology platform for cross-border bill payments and mobile phone top-ups.

Xoom provides digital money transfer from mobile phones, tablets and PCs in 31 countries. In the year to Dec. 31, 2013, Xoom's 1 million customers sent $5.5 billion to family and friends. The acquisition of BlueKite will allow Xoom to add mobile phone top-up and cross-border bill payments to its money transfer service, Xoom said.

"By adding these services, Xoom continues to broaden our relationship with our customers, and in so doing, create greater lifetime value and increased loyalty to the Xoom brand," John Kunze, Xoom's president and CEO, said in a statement.

"Xoom's online and mobile platforms are disrupting traditional forms of money transfer," Bobby Aitkenhead, former CEO of BlueKite, said. Aitkenhead will report to Kunze as vice president in charge of Xoom Bill Pay and Xoom Top Up.

BlueKite has 30 employees in its development center in Guatemala City.

Learn more about bill payment and money transfer/P2P.