They can always sell the app and charge for updates Tweetie 2 style. Or add in new features via in-app purchases. Or they can charge for push notifications.
Sparrow was selling hundreds of copies each day for 25$, they were making a lot of money from it. They probably wouldn't have made 25 million $ like they apparently made with this sale, but it's enough to keep a team of developers happy and productive.
They probably wouldn't have made 25 million $ like they apparently made with this sale, but it's enough to keep a team of developers happy and productive.
Perhaps this acquisition is just the modern equivalent of royalty/noblity calling up artists and poets. Getting "the call" to work at Google is the tech world's equivalent to being appointed poet laureate or court musician.
Sparrow was selling hundreds of copies each day for 25$, they were making a lot of money from it. They probably wouldn't have made 25 million $ like they apparently made with this sale, but it's enough to keep a team of developers happy and productive.