Horry Telephone Cooperative has purchased phone book publisher Data Publishing Inc., a former division of Hilton Head Island-based Hargray Communications.

Data Publishing publishes directories in the Southeast and started publishing HTC’s in 2003. HTC bought the company so it could take advantage of other advertising mediums to provide a bundled platform for business advertisers, HTC spokeswoman Nicole Hyman said in an email. It also will help HTC move the directory forward with potential web and mobile applications, she said. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

“HTC shares Data Publishing’s perspective regarding the importance of the printed directory to businesses of all sizes as well as the benefit of bundling additional advertising services for those advertisers,” Mike Hagg, chief executive officer of HTC, said in an email. “This is a great opportunity to build upon the various advertising tools that Data Publishing has helped to develop.”

The deal will close by Sept. 30, according to a news release. HTC, based in Conway, will retain Data Publishing operations on Hilton Head Island and says it has no immediate plans to relocate those operations.

"Data Publishing and HTC have very similar views of the importance of the directory to the brand of telecommunications providers," said Andrew Rein, general manager of Data Publishing. "We believe HTC is the perfect partner and the perfect acquirer of this business, and we are extremely confident that the directory business we built will be in good hands under HTC's leadership."