Google buys drone company Facebook reportedly targeted

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Posted: 04/14/2014 11:41:27 AM PDT

Updated: 04/14/2014 11:44:53 AM PDT

MOUNTAIN VIEW -- Google is reportedly buying an aerospace startup that's building high-altitude drones for aerial photography and Internet communications, in the latest sign that tech companies are jockeying to secure their place in the skies.

Google's agreement to buy New Mexico-based Titan Aerospace, reported Monday by The Wall Street Journal, comes just weeks after Facebook reportedly held talks with the same company. Facebook ended up hiring the team behind a British drone startup, Ascenta, and said they would join Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's effort to find new ways of delivering Internet communications links to underserved areas.

Similarly, the Journal said the Titan team will work closely with Google researchers who have been testing high-altitude balloons as a vehicle for carrying Internet transmitters over remote regions. Titan's engineers may also participate in Google's Makani project, which has tested the use of high-flying turbines to generate wind power.

In addition, Google may also be able to use drones in aerial mapping and related projects for its online maps division.

Amazon has also boasted that it's working on developing drones for delivering merchandise to its e-commerce customers, although most analysts say the technology is still years away from being useful for that kind of application.

Google did not disclose a price for the Titan deal and a the company could not immediately be reached for comment. The TechCrunch blog reported last month that Facebook had considered buying Titan for around $60 million, although that was not confirmed.

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022; follow him at http://ift.tt/1drmTFx