时间:2025-03-01 00:42:10 来源:网络整理编辑:熱點
Snapchat is continuing on its quest to redefine mobile.The mobile storytelling app is acquiring Vurb
Snapchat is continuing on its quest to redefine mobile.
The mobile storytelling app is acquiring Vurb, a search and discovery app, for $100 million in a cash and stock deal, according to The Information.
First, it was disappearing messages. Then, it was vertical video. Next, Snapchat could bring more to search.
Founded in 2011, Vurb attempted to make search more mobile-friendly, digestible and shareable by converting results into mobile cards. All within one app, users could search for a place, see the related information and save it for later or send it to a friend. Other categories included movies, TV, video and music.
SEE ALSO:Instagram Stories doesn't mean Snapchat will disappearThe ambitions were clearly to take on search giant Google. Vurb is “very different than traditional search with 10 blue links," founder Bobby Lo told TechCrunchlast year.
For Snapchat, Vurb's technology could align with its own ambitions to capture more eyeballs and ad dollars from Google, Facebook and other apps through improving third-party content and personalization. The news comes shortly after Facebook's Instagram released a nearly identical copy of Snapchat's core feature, Stories.
"I don't think this is about any old mobile search engine," Ian Schafer, CEO and founder of ad agency DeepFocus, told Mashable in an email. "The experience / place nature of Vurb seems to fit nicely into the technological direction Snapchat is heading toward."
"I don't think this is about any old mobile search engine"
That includes deep-linking to other apps and sites, as demonstrated by Snapchat's ticket purchasing ad for X-Men: Apocalypse. Vurb is connected to Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Google Maps, Netflix and Uber, for example.
Snapchat is also interested in selling and showing ads based on object recognition, as revealed in a recent patent application.
"A search engine geared around place-based intent like Vurb would help take Snapchat closer to that vision when paired with their already impressive visual recognition technology," Schafer said.
Not unlike Foursquare's pitch, Vurb recommends services that are "personalized for you in one simple app," according to its website. Those recommendations are based on interests, trending topics, time, weather and locations, the website reads. That idea could soon be matched with Snapchat's abundance of photos and videos.
Snapchat hasn't been shy about acquisitions. Earlier this year, the company acquired Bitmoji for $100 million, which it recently integrated into the app. Snapchat spent $150 million on facial recognition app Looksery to support its lenses technology last year, TechCrunchreported.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
TopicsGoogleSnapchat
'Rocket League' Championship Series Season 2 offers $250,000 prize pool2025-03-01 00:40
Reporter stays impressively calm in the face of mysterious animal on live TV2025-03-01 00:22
Apple plans to sell a clear case for the iPhone XR2025-03-01 00:12
Steve Carell to host 'Saturday Night Live'2025-02-28 23:30
Early Apple2025-02-28 23:28
Dwayne Johnson posts first peek at 'Hobbs and Shaw' with Jason Statham2025-02-28 23:24
Sour Patch Kids cereal is coming to sour (and then sweeten) your mornings2025-02-28 23:20
Nicki Minaj made 2 hilariously NSFW shoutouts during the People's Choice Awards2025-02-28 23:15
Mall builds real2025-02-28 22:40
'Sucker Punch,' Zack Snyder's hated 2011 movie, is actually good2025-02-28 22:35
Nancy Pelosi warns colleagues after info hacked2025-03-01 00:33
Ken M and the lost art of 'do no harm' trolling2025-02-28 23:50
Gucci and Saint Laurent are working with Apple on in2025-02-28 23:33
Here's how the new 112025-02-28 23:13
Two states took big steps this week to get rid of the tampon tax2025-02-28 22:59
Some basic steps to protect your Facebook account after hack hits 50 million users2025-02-28 22:35
Chrome 70 will let you opt2025-02-28 22:34
Lyft riders donate $2 million to ACLU from rounding up fares2025-02-28 22:32
Major earthquake and multiple aftershocks rock central Italy2025-02-28 22:28
Hurricane Michael is set to grow stronger and pummel the Florida coast2025-02-28 21:58