This list brings together the smartest, most forward-thinking business acquisitions Google has ever made. Google has acquired many other companies since 2001. Sometimes, these products end up living on under their former names - as in the cases of DoubleClick, Blogger, YouTube and Android. On other occasions, the former products get integrated into pre-existing or future Google applications, as int he case of the numerous map companies that blended together to create Google Maps. Finally, some companies end up being plundered for staff or useful parts, and then disbanded. This list can contain companies from all of these groups, so long as the acquisition - long-term - was beneficial to Google and wise in retrospect.
This is an Open List, so after you've voted on the smartest acquisitions, feel free to add your own suggestions at the bottom of the page.
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http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-google-acquisitions-ever/ready-to-startup,
Picnik
Online photo editing service which had partnered with Flickr.
AdMob
One of the world's largest mobile ad companies, currently serving multiple platforms including Android.
Applied Semantics
Online advertising. Integrated into AdSense and AdWords.
Metaweb Technologies, Inc.
Original developers of the Freebase open, shared database
YouTube
The world's largest video sharing site, founded in 2005 and acquired in November 2006.
Zagat Survey
Publishers of collaborative restaurant and nightlife guides and surveys
Picasa
An image organizer and image viewer for organizing and editing digital photos.
Android Inc.
reCAPTCHA
A service to protect your website from spam and abuse.
Motorola Mobility
Former mobile division of Motorola. Acquisition still pending approval.