Apple is set to greatly enhance its app search and discovery capabilities, including new algorithms that will get to know users’ preferences via its acquisition of apps search and discovery firm Chomp for an estimated US$50m.
According to TechCrunch, Chomp powers Verizon’s Android-based app searches.
With more than 500,000 apps and counting and total downloads of 25bn apps, Apple clearly wants to make sure consumers continue to find and acquire apps that are most relevant to them.
The acquisition of Chomp is a clear signal that Apple intends to revamp the App Store.
Chomp’s technology includes an algorithm that sorts apps by function as well as by title.
The company employs a team of 20 that will no doubt be subsumed into Apple. It has raised US$2.5m worth of venture capital to date.
According to 9to5Mac, Chomp’s CEO Ben Keighran and CTO Cathy Edwards are already ensconsed at Apple, with Keighran on board the iTunes marketing team and Edwards a senior iTunes engineer.
