Google Buys Jaiku

Google has purchased Finnish startup Jaiku, maker of a mobile phone application where people can use to send short messages about where they are and what they're doing. This is yet another move by Google's to offering more services via mobile phones. Last week Google purchased Zingku Inc., a mobile social networking start-up.

This acquisition is yet another clue that is pushing to expand into mobile Internet services. According to Tony Hsieh, Product Manager of Google (per Blog),
"Technology has made staying in touch with your friends and family both easier and harder: living a fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle is easier (and a lot of fun), but it's more difficult to keep track of everyone when they're running around at warp speed. That's why we're excited to announce that we've acquired Jaiku, a company that's been hard at work developing useful and innovative applications for staying in touch with the people you care about most -- regardless of whether you're at a computer or on a mobile phone.

Current Jaiku users can still use the service normally, and new folks can sign up for an invitation to the service when we're ready to expand. We plan to use the ideas and technology behind Jaiku to make compelling and useful products. Although we don't have definite plans to announce at this time, we're excited about helping drive the next round of developments in web and mobile technology.

We wish a hearty Google welcome to Jaiku, and are looking forward to working together on new and innovative ways of keeping people connected."


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