Microsoft buys out Wunderlist developer 6Wunderkinder

By Roger Fingas

Microsoft has forged an agreement to buy 6Wunderkinder -- the German developer behind to-do list app Wunderlist -- in a deal worth between $100 million and $200 million, a report said on Monday.

The 6Wunderkinder staff will remain based in Berlin, but simply work for Microsoft, a source told The Wall Street Journal. The same person speculated that Microsoft is looking to further enhance its mobile portfolio, which now includes things like Sunrise Calendar, and a variety of Office titles such as Outlook -- actually a rebranded version of Acompli, another Microsoft acquisition.

Wunderlist is a multi-platform app, available not just for iPhones and iPads but Android, Windows, OS X, and the Web. That fits with Microsoft's strategy under CEO Satya Nadella, who has abandoned Windows exclusivity in the name of getting as many people as possible using the company's products and services.

Windows 10 is due to launch July 29 across PCs, phones, and tablets. One unusual aspect is that developers will be able to port iOS and Android apps to the platform directly, which could eventually lead to a much larger mobile Windows library.

Both Microsoft and 6Wunderkinder refused to comment on the matter.