Google's buyout of Agnilux, a stealthy hardware startup formed by ex-Apple/PA Semi employees, is the seventh deal made public by the company already in 2010. That's one more acquisition than Google made in all of 2009.
While neither Google nor Agnilux is saying much about their transaction, some say the buyout could bring Google server technology needed to support energy-efficient delivery of cloud-based services.
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Also see: 2010's hottest tech M&A deals
Google's other buyouts this year:
• Aardvark, whose social search technology is based on getting your questions answered by those most expert in your online social circle. Google reportedly shelled out $50 million for the company.
• reMail, a maker of an iPhone app for searching Gmail and IMAP email accounts. The company's founder used to be on Google's Gmail team and now is right back there.
• Picnik, a vendor of Web-based photo editing technology. The technology works with other online photo-handling tools, such as Google's Picasa.
• DocVerse, which supports collaboration using Microsoft Office files. This $25 million purchase bolsters the Google Docs portfolio, as Google ramps up its competition vs. Microsoft in the online document management market.
• Episodic, a provider of live video streaming technology that should complement YouTube's video offerings.
• Plink, a two-person U.K. startup that scored a hit with a mobile phone application that identifies artworks and enables users to buy a print.
Meanwhile, Google is still tidying up some of its planned 2009 buyouts, namely its bid for mobile advertising provider AdMob. The FTC reportedly has some antitrust concerns about that one.
Google has made public more than 60 acquisitions overall.
Given the company's continued strong financial performance -- it just posted Q1 revenue up 23 percent over the comparable period last year -- there's no doubt the company will keep the buyouts coming. Company executives have said Google will look to make at least a buyout per month. Considering the company had $26.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities as of the end of March, not too many companies should be out of Google's reach.
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This story, "Google sets torrid acquisitions pace in 2010" was originally published by Network World.