Google eyeing Pinterest for acquisition?
updated 10:15 pm EST, Thu January 19, 2012
Rumors point to buyout
Google is rumored to be in the beginning stages of acquisition negotiations with the photo sharing startup Pinterest. Although the companies have yet to publicly comment on the reports, unnamed sources have told TechCrunch the search giant is attempting a buyout worth several hundred million dollars.
Pinterest enables users to build image boards based on different themes, with a "Pin It" button that can be used to quickly post media onto individual boards. Like many social media endeavors, the site provides Facebook and Twitter integration.
The unconfirmed reports suggest that Pinterest's leadership may not be interested in selling the company, rather than organizing their own IPO, however Google is said to be working to create a similar service even if the startup declines an offer.
The rumors have yet to be corroborated by official sources. If a deal does go forward, the feature is expected to be integrated into Google+.
