Comments on: Google Acquires Mobile Platform Operator Zingku http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:58:00 -0800 hourly 1 By: Shovan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-2918160 Shovan Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:59:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-2918160 Zingku has not been updated since 2007, mm what's going on there Zingku has not been updated since 2007, mm what’s going on there

]]> By: 筷子™ » Google收购移动社交网络Zingku http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-2575483 筷子™ » Google收购移动社交网络Zingku Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:49:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-2575483 [...] 日前宣布收购了 [...] [...] 日前宣布收购了 [...]

]]> By: Library clips :: iCast : Offer RSS to SMS for your blog subscribers and media widgets :: October :: 2007 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1696083 Library clips :: iCast : Offer RSS to SMS for your blog subscribers and media widgets :: October :: 2007 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:21:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1696083 [...] other features), so it’s a service handy for both publishers and subscribers…and Google recently acquired Zingku, so let’s see what happens [...] [...] other features), so it’s a service handy for both publishers and subscribers…and Google recently acquired Zingku, so let’s see what happens [...]

]]> By: PodConectar - Podcast de Tecnologia http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1655815 PodConectar - Podcast de Tecnologia Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:02:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1655815 [...] Japão quer desenvolver Internet óptica ultra-rápida Google Brasil tem o maior tempo online Google adquire rede social Zingku International Cleanup Weekend: October 13th and 14t Livro de Mozilla    PodConectar 4: [...] [...] Japão quer desenvolver Internet óptica ultra-rápida Google Brasil tem o maior tempo online Google adquire rede social Zingku International Cleanup Weekend: October 13th and 14t Livro de Mozilla    PodConectar 4: [...]

]]> By: John Scrofano http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650955 John Scrofano Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:55:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650955 What seems very Google-esque about this acquisition is the ux simplicity of the technology. Zingku and ripple9 are like old-school mudd games, submit basic text, get text menu responses, and get what you came for. Being able to post video and pictures from your phone to a “mobile billboard” is also mighty cool and easy….people are very comfortable with sms and mms use on their phone. A ‘technology grab’ certainly seems like the plausible explanation here. Google has great mobile functionality for search and maps, but not social networking. I guess they see this as a fast track to enabling functionality to their user base, especially in Orkut. (side wager – I bet they kill the whole “business model focused on indie band promotion” thing…a little tired isn’t it?) It all goes to show that this space remains hot. The company that can package the right combination of ‘mobile social networking’ features into a really slick easy to use ux/ui, will be wildly successful. My money remains on seamlessly extending social media from phones to the web, from phones to other phones, and from the web to phones. What seems very Google-esque about this acquisition is the ux simplicity of the technology. Zingku and ripple9 are like old-school mudd games, submit basic text, get text menu responses, and get what you came for. Being able to post video and pictures from your phone to a “mobile billboard” is also mighty cool and easy….people are very comfortable with sms and mms use on their phone.

A ‘technology grab’ certainly seems like the plausible explanation here. Google has great mobile functionality for search and maps, but not social networking. I guess they see this as a fast track to enabling functionality to their user base, especially in Orkut. (side wager – I bet they kill the whole “business model focused on indie band promotion” thing…a little tired isn’t it?)

It all goes to show that this space remains hot. The company that can package the right combination of ‘mobile social networking’ features into a really slick easy to use ux/ui, will be wildly successful. My money remains on seamlessly extending social media from phones to the web, from phones to other phones, and from the web to phones.

]]> By: Marcelo http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650816 Marcelo Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:25:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650816 Greats article. Congratulations! Thanks, Marcelo Greats article. Congratulations!

Thanks,

Marcelo

]]> By: Greg Harris http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650736 Greg Harris Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:54:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650736 Sounds like they acquired them for the technology. We've been doing sms and mobile marketing for a while and I had never heard of them until today. While our technology and companies like us do exactly the same thing, we have targeted businesses rather than consumers since we don't have the VC money to give away text messages by the millions. Given that most of us had never heard of them, and that the terms were not disclosed, it's entirely possible that they did not get bug bucks for it. Sounds like Google got some technology and gave some guys jobs. We'll see. Sounds like they acquired them for the technology. We’ve been doing sms and mobile marketing for a while and I had never heard of them until today.

While our technology and companies like us do exactly the same thing, we have targeted businesses rather than consumers since we don’t have the VC money to give away text messages by the millions.

Given that most of us had never heard of them, and that the terms were not disclosed, it’s entirely possible that they did not get bug bucks for it. Sounds like Google got some technology and gave some guys jobs. We’ll see.

]]> By: inbabble.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650647 inbabble.com Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:41:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650647 <strong>Roundup: no more Disney Mobile, iPhone hack reversed, Google buys Zingku...</strong> Disney Mobile a Mobile Virtual Network Operator has announced it will cease operation at the end of the year. We wrote an article in late May this year titled “Are all US MVNO doomed to fail” since then two of the operators mentioned have i... Roundup: no more Disney Mobile, iPhone hack reversed, Google buys Zingku…

Disney Mobile a Mobile Virtual Network Operator has announced it will cease operation at the end of the year. We wrote an article in late May this year titled “Are all US MVNO doomed to fail” since then two of the operators mentioned have i…

]]> By: dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650640 dave Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:38:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650640 btw, you missed the damned headline - google acquired the RIPPLE9 music services - not just zingku...THIS is most of what they were interested in (imho)...again, www.ripple9.com - oh, and btw, kebinger left in august (they must have been talking to google back then too)...he is now at rbm software... btw, you missed the damned headline – google acquired the RIPPLE9 music services – not just zingku…THIS is most of what they were interested in (imho)…again, http://www.ripple9.com – oh, and btw, kebinger left in august (they must have been talking to google back then too)…he is now at rbm software…

]]> By: dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650635 dave Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:35:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650635 sami shalabi was an iris employee, then ibm etc....his profile is on linkedin with full details...mussie shore was involved (ex lotus - genius, did work on notes and co-created lotus quickplace), marty fahey was involved (ex lotus, former ceo of webhire, former gm of lotus, big dude), james kebinger was involved (ex ibm)... ALSO - if you want to SEE what they actually do, then check out www.ripple9.com - it is a zingku company implementation (you heard it from me dudes)... good lord, am i the only fucking person who knows how to do research on the interwebs????? sami shalabi was an iris employee, then ibm etc….his profile is on linkedin with full details…mussie shore was involved (ex lotus – genius, did work on notes and co-created lotus quickplace), marty fahey was involved (ex lotus, former ceo of webhire, former gm of lotus, big dude), james kebinger was involved (ex ibm)…

ALSO – if you want to SEE what they actually do, then check out http://www.ripple9.com – it is a zingku company implementation (you heard it from me dudes)…

good lord, am i the only fucking person who knows how to do research on the interwebs?????

]]> By: Luiz Cruz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650397 Luiz Cruz Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:08:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650397 More details here : http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/ More details here : http://googlesy...m.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Gautam Kishore http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1650089 Gautam Kishore Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:54:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1650089 Any idea about what google is going to do with zingku? May be something like what i have stated here http://googlelogs.blogspot.com/2007/09/zingku-acquired-by-who-else-google.html Any idea about what google is going to do with zingku? May be something like what i have stated here http://googlelo...lse-google.html

]]> By: Fabian Schonholz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649949 Fabian Schonholz Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:32:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649949 @17 - I would tend to agree with you. At some point large companies dry up and they need to find new blood in order to restart the creative/innovation process. I am not sure that Google is there, but all these purchases point to that or at least, not getting to the dried up stage through incorporating new blood sooner rather than later. Yahoo! on the other hand, I think has been there for a while and unfortunately acquisitions will not help because the culture of innovation might have been lost. My only proof is that either Yahoo! chooses bad companies to buy or they do not leverage properly the acquisitions. I am writing a blog post on my blog that talks about Technology Innovation, the process, and the strategic ramifications of ultimately owning an innovation culture. Not ready yet, but coming soon!! :) @17 – I would tend to agree with you. At some point large companies dry up and they need to find new blood in order to restart the creative/innovation process. I am not sure that Google is there, but all these purchases point to that or at least, not getting to the dried up stage through incorporating new blood sooner rather than later. Yahoo! on the other hand, I think has been there for a while and unfortunately acquisitions will not help because the culture of innovation might have been lost. My only proof is that either Yahoo! chooses bad companies to buy or they do not leverage properly the acquisitions.

I am writing a blog post on my blog that talks about Technology Innovation, the process, and the strategic ramifications of ultimately owning an innovation culture. Not ready yet, but coming soon!! :)

]]> By: Don Jones http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649841 Don Jones Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:20:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649841 So many acquisitions points to the problem that senior management at Google knows - they're not innovating fast enough from within. Should make the venture capital guys happy, though... So many acquisitions points to the problem that senior management at Google knows – they’re not innovating fast enough from within. Should make the venture capital guys happy, though…

]]> By: Eric Marcoullier http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649837 Eric Marcoullier Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:15:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649837 @Al Gore -- is this another Google entrance exam question? @Al Gore — is this another Google entrance exam question?

]]> By: maygle http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649745 maygle Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:42:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649745 google wants YOU - Anyone,google in the wake of YOU ;) google wants YOU – Anyone,google in the wake of YOU ;)

]]> By: Smart choice http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649736 Smart choice Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:29:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649736 I think Google is Genius... They are making future wireless Google Operating system to connect future PLAN 9. Linux can't do it. I think Google is Genius… They are making future wireless Google Operating system to connect future PLAN 9.

Linux can’t do it.

]]> By: Eric http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649734 Eric Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:28:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649734 The service they offer seems pretty cool. Don't know why this technology isn't something Dodgeball couldn't have rolled out itself... but I suppose Google has money to throw around. The service they offer seems pretty cool. Don’t know why this technology isn’t something Dodgeball couldn’t have rolled out itself… but I suppose Google has money to throw around.

]]> By: Chuck http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649721 Chuck Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:10:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649721 Dying a horrible death? Most of Google's acquisitions as shown on Wikipedia (I know, I know) either are either still running (YouTube, FeedBurner, JotSpot, Picassa), have been or will be rolled into new or existing Google products(Zenter, Endoxon, @Last) or are just underlying tech that work with a number of Google products. From all appearances this will get them further into the mobile market (gPhone anyone?). Their mobile strategy seems pretty simple to me. Become a player. Once they are a player, they can leverage in what they do best, advertise. Dying a horrible death?

Most of Google’s acquisitions as shown on Wikipedia (I know, I know) either are either still running (YouTube, FeedBurner, JotSpot, Picassa), have been or will be rolled into new or existing Google products(Zenter, Endoxon, @Last) or are just underlying tech that work with a number of Google products.

From all appearances this will get them further into the mobile market (gPhone anyone?). Their mobile strategy seems pretty simple to me. Become a player. Once they are a player, they can leverage in what they do best, advertise.

]]> By: annonymous coward http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649707 annonymous coward Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:56:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649707 This site has the addres (not sure if its legit) http://www.w2forum.com/i/Zingku Btw, u shud have tried Yahoo! search :) This site has the addres (not sure if its legit)
http://www.w2fo...um.com/i/Zingku
Btw, u shud have tried Yahoo! search :)

]]> By: patrick smith http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649703 patrick smith Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:50:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649703 The domain’s registered to Sami Shalabi in Waltham, MA. He has a site http://samishalabi.com that confirms that he’s a co-founder of Zingku. And it looks like a little less than a year and a half ago he left IBM for Zingku (http://app.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/1738/) Congrats, Sami and team. The domain’s registered to Sami Shalabi in Waltham, MA.

He has a site http://samishalabi.com that confirms that he’s a co-founder of Zingku.

And it looks like a little less than a year and a half ago he left IBM for Zingku (http://app.tabb...ries/view/1738/)

Congrats, Sami and team.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649672 Andrew Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:32:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649672 And out of the 45...only a few actaully came back instead of dying a horrible death And out of the 45…only a few actaully came back instead of dying a horrible death

]]> By: Ritu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649666 Ritu Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:26:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649666 Another acquisition! Since its launch google has acquired 43 of them, I think, is this the 44th or the 45th one? Another acquisition! Since its launch google has acquired 43 of them, I think, is this the 44th or the 45th one?

]]> By: Al Gore http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649658 Al Gore Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:13:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649658 Zingu, Pingu, Dingu... what's next? Zingu, Pingu, Dingu… what’s next?

]]> By: Helort http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/comment-page-1/#comment-1649612 Helort Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:45:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/27/google-acquires-mobile-platform-operator-zingku/#comment-1649612 Location: Waltham, MA Location: Waltham, MA

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