Google Acquires PeakStream

By Ed Oswald | Published June 6, 2007, 4:02 PM

Google said Tuesday that it had acquired software company PeakStream, which specializes in software to assist developers in programming for multi-core processors.

Although the buy may seem strange to those who are following the Mountain View, Calif. company's moves, it may actually hold clues to Google's future plans. PeakStream's software has been used to program graphics processor units.

Some speculate that Google may have some interest in using GPUs to boost its server power. The company currently relies on vast numbers of x86-powered machines to run its search engine.

Using GPUs instead could allow the company to get equal amounts of computing power out of far fewer systems. Google will not confirm its plans, saying only that the technology culled from the purchase could help the company in developing high-performance applications.

According to The Register, the technology could be used in other applications including general purpose GPUs and multi-core processors. It was originally thought that suitors would include Nvidia, Intel, AMD, Sun, Microsoft or IBM.

"We believe the PeakStream team's broad technical expertise can help build products and features that will benefit our users," Google said in a statement.