Google Liking Social Acquisitions as of Late
It's been well documented that Google has been snatching up companies for quite sometime. Some of the purchases seem to work. Some don't.
Recently, however, the company has been on a social spending spree in what some feel could be different type of jump into the social media space.
After canning Google Wave and watching Google Buzz flap around like a fish out of water, one has to think that Google has something cooking in the social space that will work and stick, so to speak.
The hottest rumor these days is that Google is looking to buy Like.com, which raised nearly $50 million and started applying computer vision and learning technology to online fashion purchases.
Now, why would Google looking to buy Like.com?
Could they want to get into the fashion business or are they looking at what's behind Like.com, i.e. visual search.
My guess is that it's the latter, however, to figure out what Google will use visual search for would be like hitting the lottery. Chances are slim, but it doesn't mean you can't try, play and potentially win.
My guess is that Google is going to leverage visual search in its simplest way — search. Imagine going to Google and looking for the best places to stay in Boston during the fall. Your search results will not only bring up SEO injected content, but also visual search results within the main page of your results — videos, pictures from hotels in real-time, etc.
Now, I know this is a wild guess, but it's as good as any out there as far as I can tell.
What do you think Google will use Like.com for?
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