The Hindu : Business / Companies : Google to buy Metaweb to improve 'search' NEW YORK, July 18, 2010
PTI SHARE · PRINT · T+ Google inc plans to acquire Metaweb, but the company has not disclosed the terms of the deal. File photo APGoogle inc plans to acquire Metaweb, but the company has not disclosed the terms of the deal. File photo In a bid to improve its search operation feature, online search giant Google Inc has said that it will buy Metaweb Technologies, an Internet information database start-up, for an undisclosed amount. In a blog posted on Google's website, it said, "We have acquired Metaweb, a company that maintains an open database of things in the world. Working together, we want to improve the search and make the web richer and more meaningful for everyone," it added. However, the company has not disclosed the terms of the deal. San Francisco-based Metaweb had a free and open database of 12 million things, such as movies, books, TV shows, locations, celebrities and companies, that would help Google's users get fast replies to search queries. "Google and Metaweb plan to maintain Freebase as a free and open database for the world," Google Director (Product Management) Jack Menzel said, adding, "We plan to contribute to and further develop Freebase, and would be delighted if other web companies use and contribute to the data." Metaweb, which was founded in 2005, helps site owners, bloggers, and developers make their sites richer and more engaging. Earlier this month, Google had announced that it would buy ITA Software, a flight information software company, for USD 700 million in cash. [email protected] E RENUKA, SECTION OFFICER, ICT CENTRE FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED, CHMK LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT CALICUT, UNIVERSITY P O, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, KERALA. Voice your thoughts in the blog to discuss the Rights of persons with disability bill at: http://www.accessindia.org.in/harish/blog.htm To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
