Google acquires SketchUp

@Last Software today announced that it has been acquired by Google. The company is reassuring users that it will continue on the path it was previously traversing to help 3D architects, builders, woodworkers, gamers, and students. The SketchUp team got to know some Google employees while they were developing the Google Earth Plugin for SketchUp, which ultimately led to the acquisition. "This is one of those wonderful win-win situations; it would have been impossible for us to feel good about this acquisition if we didn't feel our culture, our users and our mission would be in good hands." Google's resources will allow SketchUp to serve its current users better, and Google's reach will allow the company to expose many more people to its 3D software. "'3D for Everyone' is becoming a reality; we're bringing the '3D' part; Google's contributing the 'Everyone.'"

@Last says that there are no plans to offer the product for free and the new company will continue to offer Sketchup as a standalone product for $500. However, @Last will change its name to Google. The company will retain the Sketchup name for its product and it is hard at work on version 6 of the software. Although it would provide any details, the company said that Google's resources will help it deliver more innovative features and that it will continue its policy of free tech support for two years after each purchase.

"Although we don’t know exactly what new capabilities [in version 6] we’ll be able to build into SketchUp, it’s probably safe to say that the additional resources we get from Google will give us the ability to do more cool stuff than ever before."

The company today also released Maintenance Release 2 for SketchUp 5 in English, with other languages soon to follow. It is available via the application itself.

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