Google purchases Meebo (for Google+)

The web based instant messaging client, a service of the Meebo Bar page sharing service, has been purchased by Google.

Google has finally gained control of Meebo, officialising the acquisition agreement. This purchase is being made for around 100 million dollars.

Launched in 2005, Meebo started as a web based instant massager which required no other installation besides an internet connection unlike other numerous other protocols (Jabber, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Facebook Chat, Google Talk...).

Meebo was then extended to be a social network which shared pages including Facebook and Twitter. For Meebo, their leading product is nevertheless the Meebo Bar which allows announcers to display content at the bottom of web pages, and users to discuss with contacts from various web sites.

Meebo announced "For more than seven years, we have helped editors expand their relationships with users to make sites more social and engaging", when talking about their work with Google.

A Google spokesman declared that the group is still looking for better ways of "helping users share content and connect across the web". Adding that Meebo staff members will join the Google Plus team.