MediaFile

Taptu, the social media mobile search start-up based out of Cambridge, England and Denver, raised another $3.5 million from its existing backers as it starts to focus on its it new TapForm platform to help media companies build their own social news aggregator.

Most users who know Taptu are probably more familiar with its  ‘DJ mixing’ news service (see video below), which reminds us of the Flipboard experience. You can aggregate and manage all your favorite news sources into an easy to read format on your chosen mobile device.

But with TapForm, Chief Executive Mitch Lazar plans to extend that capability to media partners and told Reuters he’s close to announcing the start-up’s first partner in coming weeks.

This latest round brings Taptu’s funding to a total of $23.5 million with backing from DFJ Espirit and Sofinnova.

As the mobile phone industry puts more emphasis on marketing hand-held smartphones, consumers are finding ways to dodge restrictive model-compatible applications by using Web-based programs.

Unlike single-device applications, mobile touch websites run on most mobile browsers freeing users from reliance on a specific operating system.

A recent study by Taptu suggests that the mobile touch web will play an important role in expanding mobile commerce.