Washington, Jun 5 (IANS): Google, the world's biggest search engine, is buying Silicon Valley startup Meebo that helps online publishers make their websites more social.

The acquisition announced Monday will bring more tools to Google Plus, an alternative to Facebook 's popular online hangout.

Founded in 2005, Meebo began as a browser-based instant messaging client, growing to include the Meebo Bar, which allowed users to chat on various websites like TV Guide, TMZ, and Entertainment Weekly.

"Together with Google, we're super jazzed to roll up our sleeves and get cracking on even bigger and better ways to help users and website owners alike," Meebo wrote Monday on its official blog.

A Google spokesman said in a statement that the company is always looking for better ways to help users share content and connect across the web, as in daily life.

"With the Meebo team's expertise in social publisher tools, we believe they will be a great fit with the Google+ team," the company said.

"We look forward to closing the transaction and working with the Meebo team to create more ways for users to engage online."

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. But tech blog All Things D first reported rumours about a Google-Meebo acquisition in May with an alleged asking price of about $100 million.