Google acquires startup social platform site Meebo Inc

Google Inc, the world's biggest search engine, is buying Meebo Inc, a startup that helps online publishers connect their websites with social network sites.

Although both companies have not disclosed the financial terms of the transaction, technology blog All Things Digital reported last month that the internet giant was in talks to buy Meebo in a deal worth about $100 million.

Founded in 2005, privately held Meebo provides software that allows users to chat with site visitors from its website, and Meebo Bar, which helps visitors to connect with the people and things of importance by sharing and discovering content, and chatting with their friends on their favourite social networks, including Facebook and Twitter. 

It also allows publishers and advertisers to promote products in interactive ways. 

The Mountain View, California-based company says on its website that it reaches half of the US Internet population through partnerships with media sites. 

It has over 190 million unique users globally, and sends over 90 million messages daily.

"With the Meebo team's expertise in social publisher tools, we believe they will be a great fit with the Google+ team," Google said.