Jaiku will be hoping for a better fate than that of the last micro-blogging service bought by Google.
The European rival to San Francisco’s Twitter was picked up by Google for an undisclosed sum today.
Jaiku, who visited our offices in June, enables lifestreaming – broadcasting to the world short messages about what you are up to – and includes a location feature on some smartphones.
Google bought a similar US start-up called Dodgeball in 2005, but let the service languish and the founders quit in April, complaining that Google had not given them the support they deserved.
Helsinki-based Jaiku may get better treatment. It is based on talent from Europe, where Google is eagerly expanding, and it is focused on mobile at a time when the Mountain View company appears to be on the verge of announcing a Google-enabled cell phone.
Still, Twitter may feel it is in a better position now its biggest rival has been swallowed by a huge company with competing priorities. In fact, Google’s first step has been to stunt Jaiku’s growth by putting a hold on any new sign-ups.
