Google shutters Slide social apps unit one year after $200M acquisition

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) confirmed it is shutting down its Slide social media unit just over a year after acquiring the startup for about $200 million. Slide founder Max Levchin also will exit the Google ranks.

Click here to watch a video about Slide's Photovine app.

"Max has decided to leave Slide and Google to pursue other opportunities, and we wish him the best," a Google spokesperson said, according to AllThingsD. "Most of the team from Slide will remain at Google to work on other opportunities." AllThingsD sources indicated most of the Slide staff will transfer to Google's YouTube video unit.

Google scooped up Slide last summer as part of its push to build out social sharing services to rival Facebook. But Google has moved to consolidate and streamline its product structure under the stewardship of co-founder Larry Page, who assumed the CEO reins in April. In addition, the company has shifted its attention in social media to focus on the fledgling Google+ social platform, which launched in June and already touts close to 30 million users. Slide--which operated as an independent unit--was essentially left on the outside looking in.

AllThingsD reports Google will sunset all Slide applications over the next few months. Just last week, Google expanded the Slide-developed Photovine image-sharing application beyond closed beta testing, making it available for public download via Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone. The free Photovine app enables users to snap a photo with their iPhone and share it friends as part of a "vine"--i.e., a group of photos tied together by a single, shared theme or caption, like "My Home" or "Warm and Fuzzy." In late June, Google also unveiled Slide's Pool Party for both Android and iOS, enabling to users create group albums and see friends' photos in real time.

For more:
- read this AllThingsD article

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