Google is well on its way to acquiring more venture-backed startups than any other company in 2010, after years of watching rivals like Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft dominate the M&A market.As July began, Google announced its intention to acquire ITA software, a maker of air travel flight information technology, continuing a blistering pace that has seen the brainchild of Larry Page and Sergey Brin purchase about 20 companies in the past 12 months. As Google steps up competition against Microsoft and Apple, it is increasingly purchasing technology and key talent from start-ups, rather than developing it in-house, says Scott Austin, the editor of Dow Jones VentureWire.Tech M&A deals of 2010Google went more than half a year without announcing any acquisitions in late 2008 and early 2009, at a time when many other tech companies slowed spending because of global economic turmoil.