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Google kicks off 2011 with eBook Technologies buy

Expect Google to keep snapping up start-ups it finds interesting in 2011. Its latest purchase is a company that worked on e-book software and systems.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
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Tom Krazit

Google has made what appears to be its first purchase of 2011, snapping up eBook Technologies for an undisclosed amount.

Confirmation came through an updated Web page for the company, which has been stripped of much of its content but states "eBook Technologies, Inc. is excited to announce that we have been acquired by Google. Working together with Google will further our commitment to providing a first-class reading experience on emerging tablets, e-readers and other portable devices." Google confirmed the purchase to TechCrunch but no price has emerged.

Cached versions of eBook Technologies' site available through (where else) Google show the company had a variety of hardware and software products dedicated to e-books, including two outdated e-readers. It also develops billing and e-book distribution technology for publishers.

Cue the gBook speculation, but it seems more likely that Google would want to use eBook Technologies' back-end software and systems as part of the recently introduced Google eBookstore.