Google acquires @Last Software

Google has acquired @Last Software, a 3D-design toolmaker and developer of the SketchUp software, the start-up announced Tuesday.

@Last Software, a Boulder, Colo.-based company, marks the latest acquisition by the rapidly expanding search giant. @Last Software's SketchUp, which is used by architects, game players, woodworkers and others, has a plug-in designed to allow developers to export 3D models into Google Earth.

"We got to know a bunch of Googlers while we were building the Google Earth plug-in for SketchUp, and it quickly became apparent that we could really stir things up together," according to an @Last Software statement.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed and Google declined to further elaborate on the deal, other than to point to its company blog.

A Google spokeswoman, however, noted: "We can confirm that we have acquired @Last, and we are happy to welcome their talented team to Google."

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Google @Last

Last week Google created a stir by acquiring Writely. Now it is the turn of @Last to be acquired atlast. @Last does have a commendable product Sketchup and it was there people who had played a good role in Google Earth Maps. Probably, Google would have thought this is a easy way to identify skilled manpower. Instead of it selecting the candidates, some one else does that, their quality is verified and then when google is happy, it acquires.With all these acquisitions, it does give me the thought that Google has major plans to redefine its role in the near future.

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What Next?

Last week Google was in news for acquiring Writely. Now this week it is @Last, so which is th e company to look out for in the coming week?.
I think Google wants people to keep all the guessing.