Google buys Sparrow Apple-focused startupJuly 21, 2012 - 13:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 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, AFP said. 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. "We're joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision," Leca said. "While we'll be working on new things at Google, we will continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users." 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. "The Sparrow team has always put their users first by focusing on building a seamlessly simple and intuitive interface for their email client," a Google spokesperson said. "We look forward to bringing them aboard the Gmail team, where they'll be working on new projects." 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. Safari remains the default browser used in Apple gadgets and the "engine" that Chrome or other Web-surfing applications rely on to function. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |