Startup social network analytics engine Backtype has been acquired by Twitter for an undisclosed sum, giving users of the micro blogging platform greater insight an accountability of their social initiatives.
News that email and interactive marketing solutions provider ExactTarget is to upgrade its market segmentation capabilities with Netezza’s TwinFin data warehouse appliance may not be raising eyebrows, but in the light of IBM’s impending $1.7bn acquisition of Netezza, it underlines the growing importance of data analytics to the communications industry.
Finnish handset giant Nokia said Friday that it has acquired US-based mobile analytics firm Motally for an undisclosed sum. The firm has a platform for in-application tracking and reporting, designed to enable developers and publishers to optimize the development of their mobile applications through increased understanding of how users engage.

The Holy Grail for analytics will be its ability to form predictions of what is likely to happen in the near future, based on historical and circumstantial facts.