Apple buys search engine for App Store

Apple has reportedly bought Chomp, a search engine that helps users find other apps on Android Market and Apple’s App Store.

Apple will likely use the app search company’s technology to revamp the App Store, according to TechCrunch, which first reported the buy.

9to5Mac reports Chomp will also be behind a major revamp of iTunes and that its co-founder Ben Keighran has already joined Apple’s iTunes Marketing team, while the start-up’s chief technology officer Cathy Edwards has become an iTunes software engineer.

The iTunes and App Store overhaul is likely to occur later this year.

The acquisition comes as the number of apps continues to grow, with Apple’s App Store currently hosting nearly 600,000 apps while Android market has around 400,000.

Chomp has been praised for delivering a better app search experience than the native search in both Android Market and Apple’s App Store.