Google Inc. announced it has acquired digital mapping company Keyhole Corp, the Associated Press Reported.

Keyhole's technology combines databases of mapping information and images collected from satellites and airplanes with easy-to-use software. Keyhole's interactive software enables users the ability to zoom in from space-level to street-level, the AP reported.

"This acquisition gives Google users a powerful new search tool, enabling users to view 3D images of any place on earth as well as tap a rich database of roads, businesses and many other points of interest. Keyhole is a valuable addition to Google's efforts to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," Jonathan Rosenberg, vice president, product management, told the AP.

Google's acquisition of Keyhole mapping technology places the company in competition with Yahoo! and Microsoft's own online mapping services, the AP reported.

Google has not announced any plans to integrate information from Keyhole's database into its general search results (which are served up next to contextual ads), nor did the company disclose financial details of the deal.