Mike Butcher at TechCrunch UK reports:

Word has reached me that Netherlands-based Nimbuzz, the mobile VoIP and IM startup that extends into social networks, has raised $15 million in a second round led by Naspers/MIH, with Nimbuzz’s other major existing investor Mangrove Capital Partners also participating. It’s already had $10 million from Mangrove (the original Skype investor). Apparently deals with 10 major social networks and three operators are already on the table. The latter see these kinds of apps as a way of boosting data use and therefore revenues. The cash will be used to extend to Windows Mobile, iPhone and Android. They are looking at a million registered mobile users so far.

Nimbuzz offers free mobile VoIP, conference calling, IM and group chat and photo and file sending across multiple IM communities, including Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo!, AIM, Jabber and ICQ, plus 23 social networks, including apps/widgets for Facebook and Myspace.

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MobileCrunch has announced the beta release of Nimbuzz Talk, a mobile/PC app that connects cellphone and PC users. The application supports voice, presence, conference calls, and SMS messaging between mobile devices, PC’s, and mobile to PC or PC to mobile. It currently works with MSN, Google Talk, and their own Nimbuzz chat client. It reminds me of another mobile/PC release, Talkster.

Mobile-to-mobile calls placed between Nimbuzz users are billed at local rates, making for some cheap or even free international calls. Nimbuzz’s presence support allows users to place calls by selecting a contact off their buddy list. The service then connects users via an 800 number. MobileCrunch’s Oliver Starr says the mobile-to-mobile quality is “excellent”, but mobile-to-pc “leaves something to be be desired”.

The new service also has a “Buzz” feature that lets an offline contact know you’re trying to get in touch. In their next release, this will cause Nimbuzz to wake up on the contact’s phone.

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Oliver over at MobileCrunch posted exclusive coverage this morning of a new free service called Nimbuzz that he believes could really shake up the mobile world. Users can IM with MSN and GoogleTalk users in individual and group chats, send SMS around the world for ten cents, leave and retrieve messages and call anywhere in the world for the price of a local call. Users can also send quick buzzes, or single rings, to each other for notification of something important. Nimbuzz communication between mobile devices and PCs is possible as well.

The service is a product of Buzzaa Media Group, in Rijswijk, The Netherlands. The company recently received funding from Mangrove Capital Partners, a group that provided initial funding for Skype. Check out Oliver’s post for far more details and analysis.

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