Google reportedly in talks to buy Twitter

After acquisition talks broke between social networking site Facebook and Twitter broke down last month, the micro-blogging site seems to have a new suitor. Search giant Google is reportedly in talks to acquire Twitter to expand its growing technological empire. (See: Facebook's take-over talks with Twitter break down)

Michael Arrington reported what he called a rumour on technology blog Techcrunch on Thursday night, saying Mountain View-based Google could pay more than $250 million for San Francisco-based Twitter. TechCrunch said it has been told by three unnamed sources that the companies are talking. The blog says the purchase of Twitter - which allows users to post 140-character updates and see what others are posting as well - would give Google a leg up in real-time search.

"[Twitter] holds the keys to the best real-time database and search engine on the Internet, and Google doesn't even have a horse in the game," the blog said. The Web site also reported Google would pay for Twitter in cash or stock or a combination of the two, citing two unnamed sources close to the negotiations.

Twitter has enjoyed a surge in popularity since its creation three years ago, despite the fact that the company has yet to make any money. Twitter's co-founder Biz Stone said in March that the company was eager to partner with other companies, including Google, but was not considering a merger or buyout. (See: Twitter overtakes Digg as traffic grows 974 per cent in a year)

Stone and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams are not unfamiliar with Google, having sold their blogging service Blogger to the search leader five years ago.