Zoopla, a UK-based property and house prices website, has just acquired veteran British web domain UpMyStreet, a localized information portal of service listings. Likewise, Zoopla itself is in the process of merging with the Daily Mail’s Digital Processing Group. UpMyStreet website users are already being directed to Zoopla, and some assume the merger might’ve plainly involved staff and data, as UpMyStreet has devolved into a fairly small web presence since 2003.
UpMyStreet was founded in 1998, as a location-based information service similar to a site like Yelp, and as of late was generated about 600,000 visits a month, prompting some to speculate that the merger cost less than $1 million.
When UpMyStreet launched, a user could just enter their postcode to get info on the surrounding area, including a return list of relevant businesses, ordered per distance. The system was an archiac precursor of a platform like Foursquare, who has just began to delve into the realm of coupon deals, a la Groupon.
Back in 2003, UpMyStreet was acquired by UK-based price comparison and switching website uSwitch, which was in turn bought by EW Scripps in 2006. Forward Internet Group bought uSwitch in 2009 – Perhaps the remnants of UpMyStreet have found a permanent place with Zoopla.