Google acquires software company Firebase

Google has acquired the start-up Firebase. Firebase provides developers of mobile apps on iOS and Android with back-end services that make it possible to build real-time apps via an API. The Firebase services will be available on Google’s cloud platform.

According to Firebase, more than 110,000 registered software developers use its services. With Firebase, among other things, mobile apps can be built that can be used offline; data is not synced with the Firebase databases until there is an internet connection again.

Despite the acquisition by Google, the company promises that all services will remain available and that it will also continue to serve the currently supported platforms. The start-up believes that its services are complementary to those of Google. However, the Firebase platform would be significantly scaled up before it should be available on Google’s cloud platform.

How much Google paid for the three-year-old Firebase has not been disclosed. Google may announce the addition of new Firebase functionality to Google Cloud next month: on November 4, the internet giant will host the Google Cloud Platform Live event.