Google acquires app publisher LabPixies for $25 million

Google announced an agreement to acquire web and mobile applications publisher LabPixies--financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but various reports peg the purchase price at $25 million. LabPixies provides widgets ranging from games and entertainment to productivity tools like calendars and news feeds--according to Google, the startup was one of the first developers to create widgets for its iGoogle homepage personalization effort, providing a number of global OpenSocial-based gadgets. LabPixies also produces free and premium iPhone and Android smartphone games including Flood-It!, Line-Up and Trio. Google adds the LabPixies team will be based in its Tel Aviv office, where it will anchor iGoogle efforts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The LabPixies purchase is just the latest Google acquisition in recent weeks--this month alone, the digital services giant also snapped up mobile visual search startup Plink, web video firm Episodic and stealth hardware company Agnilux, the latter deal fueling speculation an Android-powered tablet device may be in the pipeline. Earlier this year, Google purchased Microsoft Office sharing and editing service DocVerse, followed by photo-editing site Picnik, email solutions developer reMail and social search startup Aardvark. Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said the company plans to acquire approximately one startup per month throughout 2010.

For more on the Google/LabPixies deal:
- read this Google Code Blog entry

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