Google cuts jobs after Doubleclick takeover

 Google has gotten serious with its announced job cuts following the takeover of the online advertising company Doubleclick: In a first wave, around 300 employees are to be made redundant at Doubleclick. This corresponds to around a quarter of the workforce in the USA. Further redundancies are to follow in the future, both in and outside the United States.Google wants to divest itself of Doubleclick's search engine marketing division as quickly as possible, as reported by Netzwoche. Google wants to avoid a clash of different business interests with the search and advertising divisions and maintain a neutral position. Although a buyer has not yet been determined, several interested parties have already come forward, Google announced. Search Marketing will continue to operate as a separate unit until a sale is finalized.
There are also rumors that the internet company is interested in acquiring the online telephone service Skype. According to Pressetext.ch, this emerges from a report by the industry service Techcrunch, citing informed company circles. The service, which belongs to the online auction house Ebay, is already the subject of negotiations with Google. Apart from a possible outright acquisition, Ebay's top management could also imagine a collaboration with the search engine provider.