2 Aug 2012

Wildfire bought by Google

9:00 pm on 2 August 2012

Google has bought a technology firm co-founded by a New Zealander. The price is understood to be $US250 million.

Founded by Victoria Ransom from Manawatu and her partner Alain Chuard in 2008, Wildfire provides software that links to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn Pinterest and other social networks, allowing customers to manage their online brand and presence.

Its clients include Sony and Amazon.com.

Analysts say Google has bought Wildfire to help it expand further into social media.

They say it should fit well within Google because the company specialises in technology that helps advertisers reach consumers online,

Google plans to slot Wildfire into a group of online ad services offered through its DoubleClick business.