Google acquired online messenger with the functions of virtual assistant Emu , the agency said Bloomberg. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With this asset corporation plans to strengthen service Hangouts and its other mobile services.
Emu came out of beta stage in early 2014. In addition to messaging services, Emu also allows users to schedule meetings, puts automatic reminders and book restaurant reservations using the built-assistant, the principle of which is similar to Siri and Google Now.
Emu created Gummi Hafsteinsson previously worked at Google, and then went to Apple, where he participated in the creation of Siri. Until now, the service has attracted $ 1.5 million from the investment funds KPCB, Kleiner Perkins, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Menlo Ventures and others.
The application developers Emu says that messenger stop working on August 25. Application services will be integrated into the services Google. Besides Hangouts technology applications can be used when Google Now, which creates user alert about the situation on the road or need a particular purchase.
Google is the leader in the field of M & A: The company has more than 140 wide variety of shopping - from software vendors and advertising technologies to developers robots. Since the beginning of the year the company made 12 acquisitions. Estimated to Bloomberg, at the beginning of January 2014 only two years prior to the deal, Google spent more than $ 17 billion, including the purchase of mobile phone maker Motorola for $ 12.5 billion and developer of "smart" appliances for the home Nest Labs for $ 3.2 billion
By the total value of acquisitions Google ahead of Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon and Yahoo! combined.