Why Google Buys Video Conferencing Software?
Google Inc. decided to step to another level by purchasing video conferencing software from Marratech AB, a Stockholm-based vendor. They also hired the engineers involved with the software, a Google spokesman said Friday. Google plans to use the software internally, as a tool for its employees, the spokesman said. The fact that Google might later try to market the technology or integrate it into one of its commercial products, were declined. Marratech will continue to operate independently, supporting its customers and resellers following the software’s acquisition, it said on Thursday. The software now belongs to Google, so Marratech will not be able to market it anymore, the Google spokesman said. Marratech’s engineers, are Google employees, will remain in Sweden and continue to develop the desktop conferencing software. The company’s technology runs on Windows, Mac or Linux environments utilizing a broadband connection, though it does not yet support Microsoft Vista or Mac OS X v.10
