Mergers and acquisitions: Google grabs startup devoted to Apple

Google took web browser battle to iPads and iPhones with the release of chrome software for popular Apple devices

SAN FRANCISCO: A French startup behind email applications for Apple gadgets has been bought by Google as the internet titan increasingly tailors hit software to run on its rival’s hardware. Sparrow co-founder and chief executive Dominique Leca announced on Friday that the Paris-based startup’s team will go to work on Gmail, Google’s free web-based email service. A Sparrow email application for iPhones became available for purchase in Apple’s online app store in March, and a version of the software for Macintosh computers has been available since early last year. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition came as Google ramped up software offerings that compete with custom programs that Apple builds into its iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices. Google last month took the web browser battle to iPads and iPhones with the release of chrome software for popular Apple devices built with Safari online surfing programs at heart.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2012.