Apple has purchased the personal assistant app Cue. The app was originally conceived as a social search startup called Greplin. The company is not expected to shut down as a result of the purchase, although it has shut down recently, this is not considered to be caused by the purchase. There's no word yet on how Apple will use the acquisition but it is likely it will use some of the technology to make its own personal assistant, Siri, even better.
According to TechCrunch, sources close to the matter confirmed that the app was sold to Apple for between $40 million and $60 million. However, other tips reported by AppleInsider put the purchase news at close to $35 million.
Backed by SV angel, Sequoia Capital, Lerer Ventures and Index Ventures, in addition to some notable angles, Cue's claim to fame is its ability to take user e-mails and create a personal agenda based on their content.
Greolin turned into Cue last year and raised $10 million in November of 2012 from Index Ventures, which the startup chose not to announce according to TechCrunch.
Personal assistants are becoming a major factor in the success or failure of a smartphone or tablet. Apple has Siri, which began as a gimmicky feature on the iPhone 4S. Meanwhile Google has Google Now and Android boasts a personal assistant all its own as well.
Apple is expected to debut the product on its iOS 7, with Cue's e-mail and social network aggregation technology used to more accurately reporesent what you've got going on in the "Today" section of the Notification Center, which the brand put a lot of resources into improving between iOS 6 and iOS 7.
Apple was not willing to give information on the issue other than its standard PR response that says: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
