Google Buys Product Design Firm Gecko For X Projects

Gecko Design specialises in working with engineers on designs early in the creation of new products.

"This is an incredible opportunity for everyone at Gecko," president Jacques Gagne said in a post on the company's website.

"We are very excited and honoured to join Google X and work on a variety of cutting edge products," he said, referring to Google's research lab.

"We have enjoyed working with all our clients. Words cannot express the level of appreciation we have for your support throughout the many years that Gecko's doors have been open," he added.

Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Gecko was founded about eight years ago and is based in Northern California not far from Google headquarters.

Last week, it was revealed that Google was buying iPhone apps developer JetPac.

San Francisco-based JetPac currently has three iPhone apps listed on Apple's App Store as of last week. The first one, called, Jetpac City Guides uses pictures from various social networking sites to create city guides. According to its listing, the app can be used to find things like 'Bars Women Love', 'Hipster Hangouts', 'Most Scenic Views', 'Happiest Places in Town', and more.

Another app called Spotter by Jetpac - Object Recognition Real-Time lets users identify objects in realtime by pointing their phone at them. The app then uses 'Deep Belief Object Recognition' to identify what the object is.

The company's third offering is a trainer app for its object recognition network.

Written with inputs from AFP