Another social dev for Google?
Reportedly acquires Jambool and its virtual currency system for $75m
Reports suggest that Google has acquired another social game developer, following last week's buy-up of Slide and July's $100 million investment in Zynga.
Website TechCrunch cites multiple sources as claiming the online titan has picked up San Francisco outfit Jambool for $55 million, with an extra $15-20 million offered for meeting specific targets.
Jambool was founded by ex-Amazon men Vikas Gupta and Reza Hussein in 2006, and its headline product is now virtual currency system Social Gold.
If the mounting rumours that Google is planning its own gaming-orientated social network are true, the appeal of both another studio and a proprietary in-game payment system would seem clear.