Google Buys Kids App Maker Launchpad Toys for Undisclosed Amount

Google has acquired Launchpad Toys, an app maker known for its popular augmented reality app TeleStory, as well as its storytelling app Toontastic.

While Google confirmed the acquisition to CNET, Launchpad Toys also went ahead to announce (http://www.launchpadtoys.com/) that it has been acquired by the search giant on its website. The terms and conditions of acquisition were not detailed.

"We're proud to announce that our little toy company is pairing up with a great big team of tinkerers to empower GAJILLIONS of playful storytellers around the world. Launchpad Toys is joining Google to create even more amazing creativity tools for kids. Today, we've made our digital toys and tools free to creative kids everywhere. Tomorrow... well, we can't wait to share :)," posted Launchpad Toys on its website.

Launchpad Toys, besides announcing its acquisition, has also made its previously paid app TeleStory free to download from iTunes. TeleStory, which was also mentioned under the 'Best of 2014' apps by Apple recently, is an iOS-only app for kids that lets them create and broadcast their TV shows by choosing different themes, animated scenes and more. With Google's acquisition, the app might also come on Android platform in future.

Toontastic on the other hand is also an iOS-only app. It is a creative storytelling tool that enables children to draw, animate, narrate, and record their own cartoons, and then share them. Launchpad Toys says making cartoons with Toontastic "is as easy as putting on a puppet show," elaborating that children have to press the record button, move their characters onscreen, and record their voice to tell a story.