Apple close to buying podcasting app Swell for US$30m

28 Jul 2014

Apple is on a buying spree: after reportedly acquiring e-book site BookLamp.org, the Californian tech giant is understood to be close to buying talk radio app Swell for US$30m.

Citing sources, Re/Code reported the talk radio app could bolster Apple’s less-than-popular in-house podcasting app.

The Swell iOS app compiles podcasts and tailors them into personalised streams for users.

Swell’s technology apparently enjoys high engagement among fans and its user interface lends itself to in-car listening.

The company has raised US$7.2m and is backed by investors such as DFJ, Google Ventures, and InterWest Partners.

As part of the acquisition, Swell is to shutter its iOS app this week.

CEO Ram Ramkumar and other members of Swell’s team are to join Apple as employees.

Audio image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com