Google is in talks to buy messaging app, Meebo, for as much as $100 million, according to reports in US media.
If the deal goes through, Meebo could be used to boost Google’s “+1″ sharing button, which is akin to Facebook’s “Like.”
Meebo also helps users create ‘interest profiles’, which could be in tune with Google’s social targeting marketing strategy.
According to sources close to deal, All Things D is reporting that the deal could be worth $100 million. Neither Meebo nor Google are commenting on the situation at this time.
Meebo was formed in 2005, starting out as a browser based messaging app.
The product still exists as Meebo Messenger. The California based startup has developed a suite of social and mobile apps for consumers as well as publishers, each designed to enable online communication.
In its last round of financing, in 2010, Meebo raised $25 million, led by Khosla Ventures with participation from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Sequoia Capital. The company has raised $62.5 million to date.
In 2010, Meebo gained Google’s favor by helping push a web standard called XAuth , which let users come to sites and use whatever social network they liked, not just Twitter and Facebook.
At the time, this helped publishers promote second-tier players like Google, which was trying to promote Google Buzz. Google later scrapped Buzz, and last year launched Google Plus, a more ambitious social network that is now arguably Google’s most important initiative.
Meebo has also continued to explore ways to deliver to users content and advertising that are relevant to their interests — whether through the Meebo bar, or through other features like Meebo’s Mini Bar and Bookmarklet.
The Bookmarket aims to let users share interesting content to friends, and to see similar content from their friends.
