Apple acquires mapping company BroadMap, note-taking firm Catch: Report

The Cupertino-based company acquired both the companies for an undisclosed amount and the acquisition was first reported by 9to5Mac. The report notes that Apple acquired BroadMap, which is a mapping firm in the first half of 2013, while Catch (an Evernote competitor) was acquired in recent months.

According to 9to5Mac, BroadMap's expertise in mapping data could come handy in improving Apple's own mapping data, which the company uses for its iOS and OSX Maps app. Further, the report claims that Apple only acquired BroadMap's team and technology; however the Cupertino-based firm does not own the company or its name. Notably, the report also notes LinkedIn profiles of some BroadMap's employees who now worked at Apple's mapping software.

In addition, Apple is said to have also acquired Catch, which the report informs did shutdown in August citing a "difficult decision to take the company in a different direction." As per the report, Catch app was a popular cross-platform note-taking app which was present on Android and iOS.

The report expects that the Catch acquisition could help Apple in multiple ways, including enhancing Apple apps and services like iCloud, Notes, Reminders and Siri.

As per the report, Apple acquired 15 companies in 2013, although until now only ten companies (including these two) have been revealed.

Earlier Apple acquired Cue, a personal assistant app that had announced it was shutting down. The value of the deal was not announced but was said to be between $35 million and $60 million. It was speculated that Cue would help Apple better compete with its Android-counterpart, Google Now.

In August, continuing with its shopping spree, Apple acquired another mapping company named Embark with the intention of adding more features to its Maps platform. Embark was a small startup based in Silicon Valley that develops transit apps helping users navigate public transportation.