Google Acquires Gecko Design and may use JetPac to strengthen its navigation app

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has acquired JetPac, amobile app, and Gecko Designs, which has a design company that has worked with renowned industries players such as DellHewlett-Packard Co. and wearable-device provider Fitbit Inc. The fees involved in both cases have not been revealed. The company had dedicated at least $20 billion of its foreign earnings for acquisitions. However, its latest acquisitions, which both bring different values in the own ways, could have been funded by holdings from its domestic coffers.

JetPac Deal

Here is what JetPac wrote on their website: “We are joining Google…we look forward to working on exciting projects with our colleagues at Google.” JetPac is an iPhone application that amasses picture data to identify trends in the data and in turn use it to identify trending locations. It is not clear why Google acquired the start-up, but given the capabilities of the app it is definitely something to do with location, that is Google Maps to be precise.

JetPac Features and uses

• The start-up has two image recognition technologies, spotter and Deep Belief. These allow its users to locate top joints and restaurants. The apps customized suggestions may be what Google is interested in, because this can be fused with Google Maps just like Google’s “Near You” feature.
• JetPac City Guides offer customized geographic information which could come in handy in Google’s quest to be the best personal electronic tour guide.

Gecko Designs Acquisition

Gecko Designs has been in business of product design and engineering for the past 18 years. The firm is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, but will now be joining Google’s X lab. The firm’s president Jacques Gagne confirmed the acquisition reports on a web post. He wrote: “This is an incredible opportunity for everyone at Gecko… We are very excited and honoured to join Google(x) and work on a variety of cutting edge projects.” Even though Google confirmed that it was bringing Gecko to X, it did not give out any details. Google has several projects in the pipeline including Android Car, Computerised Eyewear and other Wearable. Gecko Designs employees are experienced in design and they may prove very useful in giving the Google Glass final touches before its commercial launch.

Conclusion

Google is known for its never ending acquisition binge. The California-based search engine giant has built its empire through innovations and acquisitions. It has spent over $22 billion in acquisitions, and it has acquired at least 100 businesses including Android, YouTube, Nest Labs and Double Click. As a start-up, Google was merely meant to help estimate and rate importance of sites using back links, but 14 years down the road, the company has turned into a global tech conglomerate with unparalleled success. While its latest acquisitions, JetPac and Gecko, will soon vanish in the face of the earth, they are going to work behind the shadows to make life easier, as Google has always done. The two companies’ employees are now Google’s employees and will work together with in-house developers.