• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, July 11, 2013

Putting its money where its mobile mouth is, comparison-shopping site Shopzilla has acquired mobile commerce startup Zappli. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Like ecommerce before it, “mcommerce” -- the combination of ecommerce and mobile -- is once again transforming the business of retail, according to Shopzilla CEO Bill Glass. With Zappli, Shopzilla will be one step closer to creating what he calls a “seamless shopping experience across all digital devices.”

Shopzilla plans to integrate Zappli’s technology into its portfolio of shopping sites over the next several months. The entire Zappli team is expected to join Shopzilla, and its co-founder and CEO Philippe Suchet has been named Shopzilla’s new chief strategy officer.

“The retail industry is experiencing some of the most dramatic changes in consumer behavior in its history,” Glass said. Backing up Glass’s optimism, eMarketer recently predicted that about 25% of U.S. online retail transactions will be mobile by 2017.

In 2013, U.S. retail mcommerce sales will reach nearly $39 billion -- up 56.5% over 2012 and almost triple the amount spent in 2011, according to eMarketer.

Founded in 2010, Zappli has created a number of services, including InstaBuy, an instant online checkout solution, and myShopanion, a mobile social shopping application.

Worldwide, Shopzilla boasts a consumer reach of over 40 million monthly shoppers.

Expanding its business into new areas, Shopzilla debuted a new media solutions and audience-targeting division earlier this year. Named Aisle A, the unit encompasses a range of new features, including audience targeting, rich media and display advertising.