Google Acquires Jaiku

Internet search engine giant Google made one more acquisition yesterday by adding the microblogging service Jaiku to its profile.

Jaiku is an activity stream and presence sharing service that works on the internet and via mobile phones. It allows users to send short messages about where they are and what they are doing.

Tony Hiesh, product manager of the Mountain View, California-based Google said on Google’s blog that the company believes Jaiku's technology can help them to develop new ways to use mobile devices.

"Current Jaiku users can continue to use the service normally while new users have to sign up for an invitation to the service. Google plans to use the ideas and technology behind Jaiku to make compelling and useful products,” said an official statement.

Jaiku was formed in February 2006 in Helsinki by Jyri Engeström and Petteri Koponen. The founders came up with the name Jaiku because the posts on Jaiku resemble Japanese haikus. A haiku is a short poem written about the moment that a person is living through.

Jaiku is similar to Twitter. Founded a month after Jaiku, Twitter is currently the most popular microblogging service on the web, with a customer base that includes Viacom18's MTV, who Twittered their Video Music Awards event, ZDNet, Engadget and other popular blogs and websites. Even Tech 2.0 is on Twitter!

Jaiku is compatible with Nokia S60 platform mobile devices through its Jaiku mobile client software. The software allows users to make posts on their Jaiku page. Jaiku has released its API, which allows programmers to make third-party software components.

The sum paid by Google and the terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. The company does not have any definite plans to announce at the moment.

Early last month, Google had acquired Zingku to enter the mobile phone arena.