InternetGoogle Adds Texting Tech

More mobile moves from the search leader beef up its wireless portfolio -- and hint at future products.

Text messages sponsored by Google ads? That scenario, and others like it, look increasingly likely after Google today announced it acquired Zingku's mobile messaging and social networking service. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Zingku's service enables mobile users to establish groups of contacts and share text and picture messages with them, as well as to store photos and schedule reminders on personalized sites. The company also offers marketing services, enabling online merchants to print codes in their real-world or online ads. When entered into a Zingku user's phone, these codes download a coupon or advertising material, which can then be shared with other users. Despite some of the obvious marketing implications for the service, the search advertising giant did not say how exactly how it aims to integrate Zingku's technology into its own plans. "We believe these assets can help build products and features that will benefit our users, advertisers and publishers," a Google... [ Read more on www.internetnews.com ]

InternetGoogle buys Zingku mobile social networking service (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld - Google has acquired a mobile social networking startup called Zingku, the search company's latest move to provide more services through mobile phones.

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