Apple has bought the start-up Scout FM, a spokesperson for the company confirms Bloomberg.
Further details about the purchase have not been disclosed. For example, it is unknown what Apple paid for Scout FM.
Scout FM specializes in making radio stations on specific themes, on which podcasts on this topic are played. These were offered in apps for iOS, Android and on Amazon’s smart speakers.
The apps used artificial intelligence to determine what the user prefers to listen to. Listening history and set preferences were considered.
Sold before
Scout FM was bought by Apple in the course of 2020. The acquisition was not announced at the time and the company was closed, after which staff were hired by the tech giant. Since then, the apps are also no longer available. After rumors, Apple still confirms that it owns Scout FM.
Apple was one of the first major tech companies to invest in podcasts, offering them on iPods and other devices. Music services such as Spotify are also increasingly integrating podcasts.
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