A Durham company that helps mobile-phone providers sell "apps" to consumers worldwide has purchased one of its top rivals.

PocketGear will announce this morning that it has bought Handango to expand its market for the increasingly popular programs run on smartphones.

PocketGear plans to keep its headquarters in Durham, but also will retain Handango's offices in Dallas. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Jud Bowman will remain CEO of the combined company. Bowman, 28, founded the business as a teen and bought it back in 2008 from Motricity when that company moved its headquarters to the West Coast from Durham.