Looks like Google is in free spending spree mood now. I came across this news that Google has acquired GrandCentral Communications, a Web phone service that lets users manage their existing phones and voice mailboxes over the Web as if they were a single account.
I have no idea or ever heard about GrandCentral Communication before. But I’m very sure this company has huge potential which Google can sense of

Well, I’m not going to talk about what GrandCentral Communication, but more of what Google is spending so far. This deal actually marks Google’s twelfth acquisition so far this year. Not bad for a deep pocket company like Google. We’re just pass the half year 2007 now, and Google I believe is eying several more potential companies to be acquired to support its exceptional growth and continuously widening their presence in internet and telecommunication worldwide

Since 2001, Google has acquired 44 companies including DoubleClick which haven’t yet finalized. Among the famous acquisition by Google includes YouTube, DoubleClick, Feedburner, Picase and Pyra Labs (blogger developer). By comparison, since 1986, Microsoft has acquired 78 companies

Why acquisition? With right planning along with the right companies, acquisition can shorten the product or service development life cycle for any incoming projects by fully utilizing technology or workforce from the company it acquired. This practice translated success and most importantly profit $$$ to both companies which was acquired and the acquiring company. However, an acquisition is not free from risk. There are many factors can influent the direction of acquisition as what stated by this document form UWSP and OCC which I found when I’m googling.