Nokia says the acquisition will give it a "seasoned team with strong social media and Web services expertise." That team, which is now set to grow, currently totals just 10 people, including the five founders, all former Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - message board) staffers (hence the Redmond location) -- Philip Carmichael, Serena Glover, Randy Kerr, Jim Laurel, and Mike Laurel. The company has, to date, been based in Glover's house and funded entirely by the founders.

    The deal allows Nokia to tap into the application development sector, as well, as Twango has made a point of publishing its API (Application Programming Interface) code so that third-party developers can create new applications to work with the Twango platform. "The API gives developers the freedom to create innovative software and services such as uploaders, mashups, and new ways to display and manipulate media stored on Twango," according to the Twango Website.

    It also offers Nokia another way to generate revenues, as it plans to introduce paid-for Twango accounts in the future, though no details are available yet. The Finnish company stresses that a "free level of service" will still be available once paid services are introduced.

    Nokia also plans to expand Twango internationally, as the Finnish firm expects to introduce the service in different languages and store user data outside the U.S.

    The Twango name may not survive long-term, though, as Nokia says it "may decide on a name that is more suitable" as it takes the service global.

    (On apossibly related note: Tango is HUGE in Finland. Coincidence?)

    Nokia says it will provide details about its future plans for Twango's service some time in the first half of 2008, though it seems certain that Nokia will at least add file-sharing functionality based on Twango's code to its range of multimedia handsets.