Google acquires microblogging app developer Jaiku

Google continued its mobile acquisitions spree, announcing its purchase of Finland-based microblogging and mobile social networking applications developer Jaiku. Financial terms were not disclosed. Jaiku enables users to continuously update their activities via short telegraphic messages sent via mobile handsets, PCs and laptops--the service also delivers presence information on other users, triangulating their location according to nearby cell tower data.

"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," writes Google product manager Tony Hsieh in a blog entry posted on the search giant's website. "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."

For more on the Google/Jaiku deal:
- read this ComputerWorld article

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