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Search giant Google has acquired Like.com, whose visual search engine helps people hunt online for bargains using pictures of clothing, handbags, shoes, or other items they might desire, according to media reports Monday.

Like.com CEO and co-founder Munjal Shah announced the deal on his company's home page this weekend.

"We see joining Google as a way to supersize our vision and supercharge our passion," Shah said in a statement.

Financial details were not disclosed, but a Wall Street Journal report said the startup could be worth as much as 100 million U.S. dollars.

Founded in 2004, Like.com uses computer vision and machine learning technology to provide a visual search engine focused on shoes, clothes, jewelry and decor, according to the company.

With Google bulking up on social networking capabilities -- it acquired social currency site Jambool and social entertainment site Slide.com earlier in August -- in preparation for a more aggressive challenge to Facebook, Like.com may also figure into the search company's efforts to make search more social and more deeply integrated with e-commerce.

Certainly visual search, which can be initiated with an image and a single click, is even simpler than entering a text-based search query. On mobile devices in particular, simplicity is critical for usability.

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