Google Dives into Wikis, Buys JotSpot

Google said Tuesday that it had acquired JotSpot, a three-year old startup that deals with collaborate Web pages called "wikis." The company said that joining the Mountain View, Calif. based search giant will give it access to both "world-class data centers and a team of incredibly smart people."

While the company makes the transition from its own platform to Google's software architecture, new registrations will be closed. However, interested users can sign up for a mailing list on JotSpot's Web site that would send out updates on the progress of the transition.

"It was pretty apparent that Google shared our vision for how groups of people can create, manage and share information online," Joe Kraus, JotSpot co-founder and CEO wrote in a blog entry announcing the deal, saying it watched Google's recent wave of acquisitions intently.

JotSpot's customer base has primarily been in the business sector, with its spreadsheet and calendar applications -- among others -- appealing most to that group. It is not immediately clear if or how Google may look to lure consumers.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition of JotSpot follows Google's blockbuster $1.65 billion purchase of social video site YouTube earlier this month.