Google’s controversial acquisition of mobile ad company AdMob may just squeak by federal regulators who could block the deal, sources said.
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating the $750 million stock acquisition, and in December asked Google for more information.
But it is leaning towards approval, a source close to the process told The Post.
“The review is going slowly,” the source said, adding that the deal could be approved in April.
This is taking place as European antitrust authorities have opened an unrelated inquiry into complaints about Google’s tactics.
Google, which has rolled out its own mobile operating system, Android, and mobile applications such as Google Sync and Google Voice in recent years, is looking to expand its mobile capabilities even further. AdMob specializes in delivering Web banners and flashier display ads to cell phones.
The internet giant is not in the mobile search advertising space. Still, the deal is being scrutinized as Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy have expressed concerns that Google, with its 70-percent share of the search engine market, would have too much consumer data with AdMob.
AdMob has some 15,000 Web sites and applications in its ad network.
“The FTC is looking to see if there are any synergies,” the source said.
At the end of the day, the source believes the FTC will rule in a similar manner as it did when approving Google’s 2007 buyout of advertising server DoubleClick.
In a 4-to-1 vote the FTC closed its eight- month investigation, saying Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick was unlikely to re duce competition.
However, the FTC said, “We want to be clear that we will closely watch these markets and, should Google engage in unlawful tying or other anti-com petitive conduct, the Commission intends to act quickly.”
The commission will likely not rule until Obama nominees Julie Brill and Edith Ramirez fill the two available seats on the five-member board, the source said. They still need to be approved by the Senate.
The FTC did not return calls for comment.