Google Draws A Check For SketchUp

The maker of 3D creation package SketchUp, @Last Software of Boulder, CO, have been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Google. announced on Google's official blog that @Last Software had become part of Google. When I went to sleep last night, I was employed by a small start-up called @Last Software. This morning, although I'm going to the same office, sitting at the same desk, and seeing the same people, I'm going to work as a Google employee. Schell plug-in lets users of Google Earth view SketchUp 3D content created and placed in that application. Martin noted they have had hundreds of users place 3D models in Google Earth already, and expects that number to climb. Currently the SketchUp software costs $495, but the company has made an 8-hour trial available for users to test themselves. There are no plans at the present time to make the product available for free or change its pricing model. That will disappoint Inside Google blogger Writely online collaborative word processor. Unlike the Writely purchase, the SketchUp buy has not generated frantic "here comes Google Office" talk in the blogosphere. Yet. | document.write("Email Murdok here.") Drag this to your Bookmarks. Add to document.write("Del.icio.us") | Yahoo! My Web David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.