Internet juggernaut Google continues its series of acquisitions designed to enhance its mobile and social networking services portfolio, announcing via its official blog that it has acquired Finland-based micro-blogging and social networking service Jaiku for an undisclosed amount.
Jaiku is one of the leaders in a new social-oriented application wave sometimes called micro-blogging: users are encourages to send short snippets to the service describing what they’re up to: friends can follow each others postings and keep tabs on their buddies throughout the day. Micro-blogging services are popular with mobile phone users, who can send and receive quick updates via text messaging and keep up on all their friends; privacy settings let users determine who can see what. Jaiku’s rivals in the space include Twitter and Pownce.
