Google announced on Thursday that it hired Internet pioneer Vint Cerf, as the search giant seeks to build a network foundation for its future Internet applications.

Cerf, who co-designed TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), will help Google develop architectures, systems and standards for next-generation applications, the company said.

"Vint Cerf is clearly one of the great technology leaders of our time," Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive, said in a statement. "His vision for technology helped create entire industries that have transformed many parts of our lives."

Read more: CNET News.com