Bloomberg reports Apple is continuing to work to improve its podcast experience, acquiring podcast app Scout FM earlier this year.
The Scout FM website is no longer operational, but it was previously available for iOS and Android devices, as well as Amazon smart speakers. The service generated podcast stations covering various topics, much like terrestrial radio, but offering a podcast experience.
A listener could select a specific topic, then see a list of podcasts related to that topic. The service would also offer recommendations based on past listening habits and the user’s personal preferences.
At launch, TechCrunch reported that the experience was primarily designed for use on smart speakers, like Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo devices, but was also available as iOS and Android apps.
An Apple spokesperson confirmed the purchase, with Apple’s standard “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” statement.
The Apple acquisition comes as Apple competitor Spotify has been making significant investments in the podcast space, providing an incentive to Apple to improve its podcast offerings.