Google Buys Mobile Social Networking Site

Google has brought "certain assets and technology" of the mobile phone based social networking site, Zingku for an undisclosed amount. Zingku says that it was started in 2005 when the founders noticed that teenage/twenty something's and their friends were engaging in rich media conversations drawing upon the full reach of mobile text messaging, the immediacy and speed of instant messaging, and thoroughness of web browser interface.

In a statement, Google said that it expects the acquisition to help it "provide people worldwide with direct access to Google applications, and ultimately the information they want and need, right from their mobile devices."

Zingku generates revenues by making its services available to "merchants" who wish to reach an audience. Merchants create "mobile flyers" and then publish/email a "zing-code" to their customers who opt to pull the flyer to their mobile phone. The customer can then zing it to those friends who they think may be interested.

The Zingku service is currently available as a "private beta" within the USA.

Posted to the site on 30th September 2007

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