This article is more than 1 year old

Note-jotting and mapapp firms VANISH into Apple's MAW

'We do not discuss our purpose or plans'. Burp

Apple has slurped two companies in a bid to boost the fortunes of its maps app and note-taking services.

According to the evergreen rumours site 9to5Mac, the fruity firm wolfed down mapping firm Broadmap and Evernote competitor Catch, which specialises in natty note scribbling.

In the last quarterly earnings announcement, Tim Cook announced that Apple had gobbled 15 companies, but only named 10.

On his Linkedin page, BroadMap CEO Daniel Perrone said he had flogged BroadMap to a “Fortune 5″ company which was keen to “support their digital mapping efforts". A number of Broadmap employees also appear to now be working for Apple's mapping department.

The fruity firm has been keen to boost its cartographic prowess after the disastrous launch of its Maps app, which deleted whole towns and even directed hapless drivers onto an airport runway.

Catch mysteriously shut down in August this year, after being bigged up by Apple, which featured the app in its advertising. Catch co-founder Andreas Schobel and several other staff were then revealed as Apple employees on their Linkedin profiles.

Apple confirmed the buyouts in a short statement.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a spokesman said.

The uses for both Catch and Broadmaps are clear. Apple is always looking to boost its Maps app, while Catch could possibly help integrate Siri with note taking faculties or simply enhance Apple's Reminders and Notes functions. ®

More about

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like