Google was on an last year, buying up 23 companies by late in September.

Calling Google's run a "torrid acquisition pace," research firm CB Insights noted that last year's total is equivalent to all of its buying activity between 2007 and 2009.

Among the companies the Google bought in 2010, three of them were search-oriented and three were focused on social media. One, according to CB Insights, focused on gaming, while another was focused on e-mail.

Just this week, Google announced that it is , a company that specializes in both hardware and content distribution for electronic readers.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at or subscribe to . Her e-mail address is .