Google's Next Purchase: Netvibes

No, I don't have a crystal ball, but I follow trends and something I've observed lately is that Google is on a shopping spree. So who's next in their target? I am feeling adventurous today, so I will say Netvibes (let me thank Luis for pointing me in the direction of ).

Netvibes is a Web 2.0 product offered by a Paris-based web development startup. If you encounter it at first you may think: "Customizable Google Home Page again -what's so special about it?" Unlike Google's option Netvibes (like all other nice products developed in Ajax) feels like a desktop application.

Netvibes allows you to listen to podcasts without any more software, it integrates with Meebo transparently (as a tab) and lets you preview messages from your GMail, Yahoo! Mail and (yes!) POP mail accounts seemlessly. And, if the tabs it comes with are not enough for you, you can add other tabs (a-la-Firefox, but inside the browser) as this blogger has done.

So why would Google want to snatch them? Think of all the products they've bought in recent times. Each time they were items that either enhanced an existing product they were already offering or they added something to their product line (I guess that strategy is not really unique to them... but (1) even after their capital expenditures they have free cash left behind and (2) they are investing). So there you have it! If I am right, you owe me a pack of gum... yes, you! :)