Google snaps up Aardvark 'social search engine'

Google has has a busy week on the social networking front

Google has agreed to purchase little-known social media search startup Aardvark. Media reports claim that the deal is worth roughly $50m (£32m) and could close within a week.

Aardvark was founded in 2007, and develops software allowing users to submit questions which are then passed on to the user's contacts for possible answers. The company describes itself as a "social search engine".

The acquisition is the latest in a steady flow of news from Google regarding social networking.

The company confirmed industry-wide speculation earlier this week when it unveiled Buzz, a service that allows users to perform various social networking functions and access social network services from within Gmail.

Google also launched its own attempt at a social network-driven search engine last month with the experimental Social Search project.

The service allows users to run queries through their own social networking contacts and posted content.