Google buys Launchpad Toys, maker of popular kids apps Toontastic and TeleStory for iOS
After launching kid-friendly Santa Tracker app back in 2012, it appears Google could be putting a greater focus on the child-friendly mobile apps market, that is, if their latest acquisition is any indication. San Francisco startup Launchpad Toys — makers of both Toontastic and TeleStory apps for iOS — announced earlier today that they have officially been snatched up by Google, although specifics of the deal weren’t mentioned.
“We’re proud to announce that our little toy company is pairing up with a great big team of tinkerers to empower GAJILLIONS of playful storytellers around the world.
Launchpad Toys is joining Google to create even more amazing creativity tools for kids. Today, we’ve made our digital toys and tools free to creative kids everywhere. Tomorrow… well, we can’t wait to share :)”
If their app titles weren’t any indication, Launchpad Toys builds apps aimed towards children that allow them to draw, animate, record their own TV shows, and just all around be creative using their apps Toontastic and TeleStory. Toontastic lets children build their own animated cartoons, while TeleStory uses augmented reality to put the user into the show, then share with others (think Hangouts’ special effects).
Child-friendly services are looking to be the next big thing in mobile, with Google reportedly working on a child-friendly YouTube and the recent launch of the kid-only Vine Kids on iOS. With Toontastic and TeleStory officially joining Google’s ranks, the company is now offering the normally paid Toontastic for the iPad for free in the App Store. While all of Launchpad’s apps are iOS-only, that could change in the near future.
