Google goes shopping yet again while Facebook decided to stay home.
The face-off between Google and Facebook seems inevitable and can be expected very soon going by the urgency shown by both the giants.
With Orkut a passé, Google wave gone, and Google Buzz failing to make a ‘Pop,’ Google is going all out to launch it’s rumored Social gaming network dubbed “Google Me” with such ingredients that it remains hot for a long, long time (or will it sizzle out again?)
Techcrunch reported that Google has acquired San Francisco-based start-up Jambool and its gaming product Social Gold.
Jambool’s Social Gold is an online virtual payment platform which can be incorporated in virtual worlds, social games and applications, MMOs, and other online games portal.
The deal amount is reportedly $70 – $75 million – $55 million for Jambool and another $15 – $20 million in an earnout.
This deal comes even before the news of Google’s acquisition of social app developer Slide for $280 million have died. Apart from that, if you remember, Google had also invested around $100 million to $200 million in Facebook leading game developer Zynga. There are also rumors in the air that the company is also under negotiations with other top social gaming companies like EA’s Playfish and Disney’s Playdom to establish games-friendly network.
With it’s hand on social gaming companies, social app developer and a virtual currency payment platform, does it mean “Google Me” is almost out?
While Google is busy shopping, as told earlier, Facebook has decided to stay at home for the next 60 days. During this period, the company’s office will remain open 24×7 to revamp some of it’s products.
We will see if working from the inside or outside is a better approach when the final show down happens…or will it happen?
