The five biggest companies that Google has gobbled
(Read article summary)As Google turns 13 on Tuesday, it's a very different company than it was even just a few years ago.
Google has wrapped its tentacles around yet another aspect of digital life, announcing plans earlier this year to buy smart-phone giant Motorola Mobility. The 13-year-old search-engine company has a history of staying ahead through smart acquisitions. Here are its five largest (assuming the Motorola deal goes through):
1. Motorola Mobility, $12.5 billion: The deal would give Google a top-rate phone manufacturer and 17,000 patents – both important ammunition against Apple and Microsoft. That’s if the Feds approve the deal.
2. DoubleClick, $3.1 billion: Many websites, including the Monitor’s, partner with Google to provide display ads. DoubleClick tracks your interests to make those ads relevant to you. Worried about your privacy? Google lets you opt out or manually control your profile.
