Snapchat buys Vurb, a search and recommendation app, for $110 million
Snapchat could be getting ready to dip their toes into search, according to a report from The Information who claims the messaging and social media giant has reportedly struck a deal to acquire Vurb — a search and discovery app — for a cool $110 million.
Vurb was one of the recent winners of TechCrunch’s Disrupt NY and allows users to search and receive recommendations on the things they love. By integrating services like Yelp, Uber, and Fandango, it’s almost like a personalized assistant of sorts, with the ability to provide recommendations on new restaurants to try, hire rides, or book tickets to movies.
Suggestions are provided based on your personal interests along with what’s trending (via community recommendations), time of day, weathers, current location, in a handy card-based UI. Each card can be saved for later, or even shared with friends who can also help collaborate. It’s a lot like Google Now, only without all the, you know… Google.
It’s entirely possible Snapchat is thinking about integrating these services into their app, but nothing is official quite yet. With over a thousand 5-star reviews in the Google Play Store, it’s clear they’re doing something right. With messaging apps jumping on the bot bandwagon to help assist their users, Vurb could be exactly what Snapchat needs to stay competitive.
Download on Google Play: Vurb
[via Engadget]