Google Buys Teracent, Continues Expansion Into Advertising

Internet search giant Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) said it acquired closely held Teracent Corp., a 3-year-old startup, in an effort to boost sales of visual Web advertisements. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Google started its move into advertising last year with its $3.2 billion purchase of DoubleClick. Google is also in the process of buying AdMob, a startup specializing in ads for mobile devices, for $750 million.

Google had $22 billion in cash as of the end of September.