Google Buys Facebook-Focused App Marketing Firm Toro

Google has acquired mobile marketing company Toro, a firm that helps developers market their apps on social media platforms like Facebook. The announcement came via Toro on Tuesday, but neither company has disclosed the financial terms of the deal.

Announcing the acquisition via Toro blog, the startup company wrote, "With greater resources and distribution now available at our disposal, we're excited to join Google and continue our mission of making the lives of app developers easier."

The San Francisco-based startup Toro, which was originally known as Red Hot Labs Inc., is known for offering services and tools to help software makers boost their user numbers, and was best known for its Facebook ad campaigns. It was also a Facebook 'Preferred Marketing Developer' (PMD).

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The company is led by Amitt Mahajan and Joel Poloney. The duo previously co-founded MyMiniLife, and is said (via TechCrunch) to have played a key role in the creation of FarmVille.

Now after the acquisition, Toro blog notes that the company would continue to support existing customers, however new campaign creation has been suspended temporarily.

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"For our existing marketing customers, we will continue to optimize your campaigns and update your dashboards, though campaign creation has been suspended for the time being. We recommend working with an alternative Facebook PMD for new campaigns going forward. For reporting customers, your reports will continue free of interruption. We want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has supported our team and product along the way. We're eager to get back to work building amazing products for you within Google!" added the Toro blog.

Techcrunch notes a Google spokesperson has confirmed the acquisition, and that Toro will be joining the Mountain View giant's mobile advertisement team.