Google, the ever-ambitious search group, has hired one of the founding fathers of the internet as its "Chief Internet Evangelist".

Vinton Cerf, 62, was one of the group that created the internet's predecessor, the Arpanet, and then co-developed the basic TCP-IP protocols that allowed remote networks to connect with each other.

He was poached from the telecoms company MCI to develop new applications for Google, the latest in a series of internet pioneers recruited by the Silicon Valley giant whose cash pile has grown considerably since its partial flotation last year.

Mr Cerf said he was looking forward to working with the "Google family" to help the internet reach its true potential - including his own personal dream to extend the network into space.

"This medium will enjoy wider-spread use than television, radio, or phones, and will ultimately expand beyond planet Earth," he said. "Google has always believed in doing things differently, and I believe that places us in a unique position to help bring even the wildest internet visions into reality."

Mr Cerf is best know for developing the internet's basic protocols with Bob Kahn in 1973, but has remained an active inventor for 30 years.

For the past 11 years he has been working on internet infrastructure projects at MCI and since 1999 he has also served as chairman at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) - the body which administers the creation of new web domains.

He said he hoped to retain the role in ICANN and avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. Google serves as a registrar of Internet domain names and technically has business interests governed by ICANN.

Of his new job, Mr Cerf said: "The title is amazing - it’s Chief Internet Evangelist, which suggests I should go from three-piece suits to some sort of ecclesiastical robes."

Although raised a Congregationalist, he quipped that his religion is now "geek orthodox."

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