Chomp loses Android compatibility following Apple acquisition

Following its purchase of the app search engine Chomp, Apple has disabled its functionality with Google's Android mobile operating system.

AppleInsider first began to receive word from readers on Thursday that Chomp was no longer working on Android phones. And as of Friday, the site no longer allows users to search for Android applications, only offering the iPhone and iPad as options.

Apple's purchase of Chomp was first revealed in February by The Wall Street Journal, and the price is believed to be around $50 million. The San Francisco-based company was founded in 2009, and raised $2.5 million in funding before it was bought out.

Aside from the removal of Android from the Chomp.com website, the service looks largely the same. Users can search for what they want for either iPhone or iPad, or see lists options in the categories "Free Apps of the Day," "Trending Apps," "All Time Greats," "On Sale," "Top Twitter Apps," and "New Apps."

The company's "About Us" page makes no mention of Apple or the buyout. It gives a list of angel investors that have backed the company, as well as the company's advisors, which include actor Ashton Kutcher and entrepreneur Kevin Rose.

In addition to a search website, Chomp also has an application available for iOS on the App Store. The free download (iTunes link) currently has a rating of four and a half stars from users.

Chomp was only the second acquisition made by Apple in 2012, despite the fact that the company has a growing cash pile that is over $100 billion. Rather than make a number of high-profile acquisitions, Apple announced in March that it will spend $45 billion over the next three years on a stock dividend and share repurchase program.

It's believed that Apple will use is acquisition of Chomp to improve its own App Store for the iPhone and iPad, specifically the ability of users to find new applications from the digital storefront. The company revealed this week in its quarterly earnings conference call that there are more than 600,000 applications currently available on the iOS App Store, with 200,000 of those designed specifically for the iPad.