Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has reportedly confirmed the acquisition of book data analysis startup BookLamp. The startup is responsible for developing technology known as “Book Genome Project”, to do deep book data analysis so that it can recommend related titles for readers.
According to TechCrunch sources, the acquisition price is somewhere between $10 million and $15 million. The deal apparently took place earlier this year when BookLamp reported that its BookLamp.org site which served as technology demo for the Book Genome Project, will no longer be available as the company evolves its mission.
Typical Apple way of acquisition as it issued the following statement: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans”.
It’s not yet clear why Apple bought the Idaho based startup, but BookLamp’s main product, the Book Genome Project, based on deep book data and titles of other books analysis, can suggest related books for users to read. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could make use of this technology to improve its iBook service and suggestions.
This acquisition could also be looked at as competing with Amazon which did have talks with BookLamp before acquiring GoodReads, another related book recommendation company.
Apple could use BookLamp technology to to improve its eBook offerings in many ways, but as can be seen from what the Book Genome Project can do, Apple could use it to improve it’s related iBooks recommendations to readers.
Apple could also use BookLamp’s Kickstarter the Game of Books where readers can earn badges and RPG level-ups for the books they read.
The eBook reader market competition is heating up with Amazon currently holding the lead, it’s not surprising to see others also enter the arena to try to get a piece of the pie. Back in 2011, Google Inc acquired eBook Technologies, a hardware/software eBook distribution and readers company.
