Google buys out social media marketing startup Wildfire
updated 04:30 pm EDT, Tue July 31, 2012
Wildfire buyout by Google is believed to be worth more than $250 million
The giant that is Google has made its later acquisition, having purchased Wildfire, a four-year-old company that tracks the presence of its clients on social networking sites that include Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. The deal is reportedly worth about $250 million not including earnouts, employment agreements and other miscellaneous costs, said AllThingsD. Wildfire will likely be integrated into Google's social marketing efforts, though neither company has gone out and said this.
Wildfire, which raised $14 million during its existence, said its current services will be unaffected, with the same support for current customers carrying on. Google believes the match-up will bring more businesses in touch with its customers.
"The ultimate goal is better and fresher content and more meaningful interactions," Google Product Management Director Jason Miller said.
Wildfire and its staff are likely to help grow Google Plus social network initially.
