The operator of the Habbo Hotel isometric virtual world for teens is selling an old Finnish social networking site, as it marks a profitable tenth anniversary.
Sulake is offloading IRC-Galleria, a photo gallery for users of internet Relay Chat (IRC) which was formed in 2000 and bought by Sulake in 2007, to its management.
Sulake says 2010 net profit was €1.6 ($2.27/£1.41) million; a 2009 figure wasn’t disclosed but the firm said it was a “record” year. Revenue rose by a fifth to €56.2 ($79.84/£49.66) million.
CEO Timo Soininen (via release) credits the growth to virtual pets, virtual item trading, Habbo Cllub and games.
“This year, our focus will be 100 percent on growing Habbo Hotel into an even bigger and more engaging social game and community for teens around the world. New social games and features inside Habbo Hotels and Habbo mobile apps, in particular, are a significant growth opportunity for us this year,” Soininen says.