Groupon Said to Weigh Sale to Google

Groupon, the application that sends daily messages to users in 300 markets in 29 countries, offering steep discounts on products and services ranging from cupcakes to yoga classes, dinner cruises to dental exams, is said to be weighing selling itself to Google.

Groupon keeps a 50 percent cut of every deal sold, while the business benefits from a rise in new customers. Deals, known as groupons, activate when a certain number is sold, encouraging users to recommend offers to friends.

The deal is noteworthy for several reasons. For starters, it is part of Google's announced acquisition spree, which Google says will occur basically on a "a company a month" sort of pace. The other angle is that a Google purchase would show Google's deepening moves into mobile-facilitated commerce and shopping, all with social networking angles and local advertising angles.

Groupon might be seen as a "social coupon" or "digital coupon" business. That makes it a mobile marketing and advertising vehicle as well. Local advertising through media including newspapers, direct mail, radio and the Internet will reach $133 billion in the U.S. this year, according to BIA/Kelsey, a consulting firm.

Groupon also illustrates the growing synergies between mobility, location, local advertising and commerce.

Groupon Said to Weigh Sale to Google vs. Raising More Funds - Bloomberg