Google acquires Zingku social networking platform
Last Updated: Friday, September 28, 2007 | 9:46 AM ET
CBC News

Google has gobbled up mobile social networking and communication platform Zingku, causing rampant speculation among Google-followers about its plans for mobile space.

Zingku released a statement Thursday saying that it had entered into an agreement to have Google acquire its service, but did not give details. Meanwhile Google has issued no formal statement.

The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Google has developed prototype cell phones that could reach the market within a year. A Google phone, much like Apple Inc.'s hotly-desired iPhone, could soon be a reality, the newspaper said.

The kind of service offered by Zingku, launched in the United States in 2005, would be crucial to any push by Google to market a mobile phone.

The service allows users to create and exchange things like invitations and "mobile flyers," via mobile phone.

It can also integrate cell phones with a personalized web site so that users can easily move things back and forth between the web and their phone.
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谷歌公司收购了一家名为“Zingku”的手机社交网络服务新兴公司，下一步将通过手机提供更多的移动服务。

　　Zingku是一家致力于通过手机帮助用户更好地分享照片、传递邀请以及在朋友中进行投票的公司。公司也为商业用户提供发送手机广告给消费者的服务。

　　Zingku公司成立于2005年，其服务已经在美国有限数量的用户中测试。由于被谷歌收购，注册Zingku新的用户帐号已经被冻结，原有的用户帐号将被转移到谷歌旗下。

　　双方详细的收购条款没有被透漏，谷歌公司也没有就此置评。但是根据来自名为“谷歌操作系统”的博客的消息，谷歌公司证实购买了Zingku公司的资产和技术。

　　Zingku的服务是免费的，用户主要是十几岁的少年和二十岁左右的青年。由于使用标准的文本和图片的格式和网络浏览器，用户无须安装特别的软件。Zingku的用户可以在朋友圈、信赖的朋友之间分享内容，也可以通过手机订阅博客的内容。商家还可以发送一个接入号码给用户，用户通过号码下载手机广告传单，并和朋友分享。

　　收购将助长谷歌开发自主手机产品的传言，尽管Zingku公司未必能为开发手机提供帮助。然而Zingku公司提供的类似服务，将帮助谷歌通过手机联系到更多的手机用户，这是一种正在形成的新的广告模式。

http://www.zingku.com/