Google is known for investing in different markets, having acquired companies such as Boston Dynamics and DeepMind. This time however, Google is aiming for the ‘skies’ so to put, with the rumors of acquiring startup company Skybox, a company specialising in high-definition satellite imagery.
The amount of money in question is quite impressive as well, having rumored to be at an estimated $1 billion. The parties have refused to make any comments, as is to be expected when a big acquisition such as this one is in order. Why Skybox and what is Google hoping to get out of this? The answer is simple.
Skybox, as previously mentioned, focuses on satellite imagery. It is different through the way of offering high quality imagery and video to its clients and the company also make their own satellites, software and offer pristine footage. A preview of what they currently offer can be seen in the video below.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCrB1t8MncY[/youtube]The reports also say that Skybox was one of the alternatives Google was looking into. It is said that the company giant had its eyes on another company called Planet Labs, raising the possibility of Google working on something big. Two of the possible reasons of acquiring Skybox is either to integrate it into Google Maps / Google Earth Enterprise or even use it for its Project Loon.
While Google Maps and Google Earth Enterprise sounds more plausible, since integrating Skybox’s imagery into the latter could skyrocket its services, it still raises the questions of whether the company giant is willing to spend $1 billion on just that. This is why Project Loon could be another candidate, since Skybox could be a nice addition to its recent acquisition for Project Loon, Titan Aerospace, to help track the balloons and their position. Whichever way it may be, we will just have to wait and see.
Thank you Android Authority for providing us with this information
Image and video courtesy of Android Authority
