Apple gets Big Data analytics, buys Topsy Labs for $200M

Apple has long provided devices and software people use for social networking, but now it’s moving into the business of analyzing what all that chattery content entails.

The company on Dec. 2 said it acquired San Francisco-based social media analytics provider Topsy Labs for about $200 million, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.

An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the deal to The Journal but refused any other comment.

Topsy provides real-time parsing of huge data sets with online tools that analyze data from Twitter feeds and other sources to track consumer commentary and feedback for enterprises. It can determine how often a specific term is tweeted or retweeted and how the term is used, identify an influential person on a specific subject, or measure the exposure of an advertising event or campaign.

The tools also provide reports on how new products are being received by consumers and what people are telling their friends about various topics.