In a sign that Google is interested in broadening its reach among local businesses, the search giant is in acquisition talks with Yelp, the review site for local businesses, according to three people with knowledge of the deal.
The two companies have had conversations for several years, but a more serious round of acquisition talks began two months ago, one of the people said late Thursday. The companies have discussed a price and are negotiating the details, but have not yet signed an agreement.
The people with knowledge of the deal would not disclose the acquisition price, but one said that it was more than $500 million, the figure cited by TechCrunch, the industry blog that first reported the news Thursday evening.
More: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/technology/companies/19yelp.html
The two companies have had conversations for several years, but a more serious round of acquisition talks began two months ago, one of the people said late Thursday. The companies have discussed a price and are negotiating the details, but have not yet signed an agreement.
The people with knowledge of the deal would not disclose the acquisition price, but one said that it was more than $500 million, the figure cited by TechCrunch, the industry blog that first reported the news Thursday evening.
More: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/technology/companies/19yelp.html