Google Inc. on Monday acquired a maker of solar-powered drones—a startup that Facebook Inc. had also considered acquiring—as the technology giants battle to extend their influence and find new users in the far corners of the earth. Google didn't disclose the purchase price for New Mexico-based Titan Aerospace, which is developing jet-sized drones that are intended to fly nonstop for years. Google said the technology could be used to... Kim Jong Nam's Son Speaks Out on Father's Killing The Dirty Little Secrets of Customer Service Range Rover Velar Debuts at the Geneva Motor Show ‘Hockey Hair’ Videos Boost Minnesota High-School Tournament Poachers Kill a Rhino at French Zoo for the HornThe technology company announced Monday that it has acquired Titan Aerospace, a start-up founded in 2012 that makes high-altitude, solar-powered drones. The purchase is part of the new push in Silicon Valley to find ways of delivering Internet service to underserved areas, particularly in the developing world.

"Titan Aerospace and Google share a profound optimism about the potential for technology to improve the world," Google said. "It's still early days, but atmospheric satellites could help bring internet access to millions of people, and help solve other problems, including disaster relief and environmental damage like deforestation." The Titan team will operate separately from Google, but will collaborate with divisions including Google Maps and Project Loon, which has been working on delivering Internet service from high-altitude balloons. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Titan touts a variety of applications for its drones, including data delivery, crop monitoring and search-and-rescue aid. The vehicles can stay aloft for up to five years without having to land or refuel, making them an intriguing possibility for beaming out Internet service. Titan has showcased its drones in demo flights, though they're not yet commercially available. The purchase marks the latest salvo in the tech cold war between Google (GOOG) and Facebook (FB).

Facebook looked into purchasing Titan at one point as well, according to various reports. The company recently hired several key staff members from U.K. drone maker Ascenta to join its "Connectivity Lab," which is experimenting with Internet delivery using experimental technology including drones, satellites and lasers. parrot ar drone trimBoth Facebook and Google have made a number of recent bets on emerging technologies, aiming to stay nimble once their current businesses are disrupted. black ops 2 prestige droneFacebook made a splash earlier this year with its $19 billion purchase of mobile messaging service WhatsApp, and scooped up virtual-reality firm Oculus VR last month for $2 billion. ar drone 2 yorum

Google, in turn, has invested billions in driverless cars, wearable gadgets, military robots and -- most recently through its purchase of Nest -- connected home devices such as smoke detectors and thermostats. Google Inc. said Monday it agreed to buy Titan Aerospace, a startup maker of high-altitude drones, as the Internet search giant adds more aerial technology to collect images and get more of the world’s population online. ar drone parrot nzGoogle didn’t disclose a purchase price for Titan, of Moriarty, N.M., whose solar-powered drones are intended to fly for years.ar drone flight recorder ebay Check out all the Circuit Playground Episodes! black ops 2 quadrotor drone reviewOur new kid’s show and subscribe! Have an amazing project to share?

Join the SHOW-AND-TELL every Wednesday night at 7:30pm ET on Google+ Hangouts. Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer! Learn resistor values with Mho’s Resistance or get the best electronics calculator for engineers “Circuit Playground” – Adafruit’s Apps!Google buys solar-powered drone maker Titan Aerospace Internet search giant Google has bought US high-altitude drone maker Titan Aerospace for an undisclosed sum. Google said the acquisition was intended to help the firm's efforts to expand internet access.Titan Aerospace, which is building two types of solar-powered drones that can fly for years, says it expects "initial commercial operations" by 2015.The firm, which has about 20 employees, will continue to be based in Moriarty, New Mexico."It's still early days, but atmospheric satellites could help bring internet access to millions of people, and help solve other problems, including disaster relief and environmental damage like deforestation," Google said in a statement.

"It's why we're so excited to welcome Titan Aerospace to the Google family."Google's purchase follows Facebook's announcement earlier this year that it had bought UK-based drone maker Ascenta for $20m (£12m).The two firms are competing to be able to use cutting-edge technology, like drones and high-altitude balloons, to deliver internet to more of the world's population. '30 killed' in IS Kabul hospital attack Gunmen dressed as doctors stormed the largest military hospital in Kabul. Mystery Kim Jong-nam son video emerges Germany warns Turkey over Nazi jibes 'I had to pretend to be a Muslim to survive' Night-time in America's small towns Life after militants lost the battle for North Waziristan The 'sun king' who built a solar city in China Why I can't post images of things going wrong What will happen to UK trade post-Brexit? French election explained in five charts How India's 'Real Marigold Hotel' changed my life Social media's latest trendsetters