Google acquires Ruba.com

#1

Post by ilike » Tue, May 25, 2010, 1:44 PM UTC

Google acquires Ruba.com
ruba.com

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#2

Post by random42 » Tue, May 25, 2010, 2:15 PM UTC

Ruba is not acquired by google. The Ruba team is just working with iGoogle team.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/google-acquires-travel-guid...

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#3

Post by davidu » Tue, May 25, 2010, 2:34 PM UTC

random42 wrote: post #2

Ruba is not acquired by google. The Ruba team is just working with iGoogle team. http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/google-acquires-travel-guid...

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more.

Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#4

Post by random42 » Tue, May 25, 2010, 2:38 PM UTC

davidu wrote: post #3

random42 wrote: post #2

Ruba is not acquired by google. The Ruba team is just working with iGoogle team. http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/google-acquires-travel-guid...

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more. Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

Yeah, probably. But Ruba is not acquired YET and my personal experience (very limited, I must admit), tells me not to jump to conclusions. :-)

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#5

Post by huherto » Tue, May 25, 2010, 2:45 PM UTC

Good for them! But it doesn't say what will happen with their service.

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#6

Post by jacquesm » Tue, May 25, 2010, 2:58 PM UTC

I wished people would use the word 'acquires' to describe those situations where a succesful start-up is bought by a larger company, not as a fig-leaf for dismembering a not-so-hot start-up or worse.

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#7

Post by silkodyssey » Tue, May 25, 2010, 3:05 PM UTC

random42 wrote: post #4

davidu wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more. Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

Yeah, probably. But Ruba is not acquired YET and my personal experience (very limited, I must admit), tells me not to jump to conclusions. :-)

An acquisition seems to be the logical outcome because if the team is going to be working at Google then that raises the question of what's going to happen to the ruba.com site. It doesn't seem plausible that the project would just be abandoned because I think it's reasonable for the owners to expect some compensation for the work they've done.

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#8

Post by cmelbye » Tue, May 25, 2010, 3:08 PM UTC

davidu wrote: post #3

random42 wrote: post #2

Ruba is not acquired by google. The Ruba team is just working with iGoogle team. http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/21/google-acquires-travel-guid...

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more. Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

1. Unsatisfied with working at Google, Googler leaves to become a founder at a startup

2. Startup does stuff that Google wants

3. Google acquires startup, Googler is back at Google

4. ???

5. Profit!!

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#9

Post by mikeryan » Tue, May 25, 2010, 3:14 PM UTC

Congrats to the CEO of Ruba for looking out for his team enough to find them jobs before dissolving the company.

I'd jump on this guys next gig in a heartbeat.

Re: Google acquires Ruba.com

#10

Post by icey » Tue, May 25, 2010, 3:18 PM UTC

cmelbye wrote: post #8

davidu wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point Google is making is that ruba.com will be shut down and the team Mike assembled will be integrated into iGoogle and other teams. They will not be working on ruba.com any more. Mike had assembled a world-class team, including former Googlers and Google wanted those people back working for them. It's the Google boomerang. :-)

1. Unsatisfied with working at Google, Googler leaves to become a founder at a startup 2. Startup does stuff that Google wants 3. Google acquires startup, Googler is back at Google 4. ??? 5. Profit!!

It seems like a pretty meritocratic way to earn a bigger pay raise than you'd normally get.