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"Apple has reportedly completed the acquisition of apps discovery start-up Chomp, in move intended to help iOS users more easily track down the best apps for iPhone and iPod.  TechCrunch broke the news of the deal yesterday, claiming that the Chomp team and technology will now be absorbed into the Apple iTunes operation. Bloomberg claims that Apple paid around $50m (\u00A332m) for the firm.   Chomp, which has raised around $2.5m in funding over the years and employs around 20 people, launched an iPhone app in January 2010 as a way for users to write reviews of their favourite apps, and also browse other people&amp;#039;s recommendations. The service has since expanded beyond just iOS devices to Google Android, including a deal with Verizon to power all Android-based app searches. Chomp is thought to have around 400,000 active users According to TechCrunch, the firm&amp;#039;s arrangements around Android are likely to end following the Apple deal, as are its standalone products offered to users.  However, the Apple acquisition is not viewed as a simple deal to recruit the Chomp talent, but rather the firm&amp;#039;s technology will be used directly to boost search and discovery in the iOS app store.  Website 9to5Mac has said that the Chomp team is &amp;quot;already working at Apple&amp;quot;, including its chief executive Ben Keighran joining iTunes marketing and chief technology officer Cathy Edwards becoming a senior iTunes engineer. The Chomp deal will help Apple provide effective discovery around the more than 500,000 apps in the App Store, but it will also boost the existing Genius technology operated by the US firm. &amp;gt; Top iPhone Apps - Clear, Gumtree, more &amp;gt; Apple&amp;#039;s App Store to hit 25 billion downloads "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/apple/news/a367668/apple-snaps-up-app-search-start-up-chomp/>