Apple has acquired apps search company Chomp for an undisclosed price, it said Friday.
Chomp, based in San Francisco, is the developer of a search engine that helps users find mobile apps based on their functions, and not just their name, according to its website. The company’s search engine can be accessed on the web or via mobile apps for the platforms it covers.
The Chomp application for Apple’s iPhone was developed in 2010, and a version for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is available for free download on the iTunes app store. An Android version is also available for download on Android Market.
In September, the company announced that it would be powering search in the new Verizon Apps store and Chomp app search will ship in every Verizon Android phone.
The company also introduced in September a private beta of its advertising program, Chomp Search Ads, that allows advertisers to bid on app search keywords.
Apple did not comment on how it would integrate the application into services such as its app store.
“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” an Apple spokesman wrote via email.
Chomp representatives declined to comment.