Google Buys Bump Technologies

Google is continuing its push into the personal computing space with its purchase of Bump Technologies, creator of the 3-D BumpTop desktop interface.

Google has not yet posted any information about the purchase on its blog or media site. But Bump Technologies has posted a brief announcement on its site saying it has been acquired by Google, meaning BumpTop for Windows and Mac are no longer for sale and no updates are planned. Existing BumpTop users have an option to e-mail the company for further information, and the free version of Bumptop will be available for download during the next week or so.

The message concludes by saying, “Despite our change in strategy, we remain as passionate as ever about helping shape the future of computing.” This would imply that at least Bump Technologies ownership, and possibly some or all of its development team, will remain in their roles with Google. However, the immediate discontinuation of sales suggests that BumpTop’s 3-D desktop functionality will likely be absorbed into Google’s product offering rather than offered as a separate solution.

Last November, Google announced that its Chrome operating system, which leverages cloud computing technology to offer completely Web-based browsing and storage, will be developed as an open source project. With that announcement, Google essentially declared war on Windows. Google’s purchase of BumpTop presumably means the company plans to incorporate 3-D elements into Chrome as well, which could provide another major differentiating point. Although who doesn’t seriously think Microsoft is actively developing 3-D functionality for Windows?