Apple buys Topsy in pursuit of more Twitter tips

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San Francisco • Apple has bought Topsy Labs in a deal that will provide the iPhone maker with more insights about the chatter on Twitter.

Topsy pours through the stream of conversations occurring on Twitter to identify trends and people influencing the opinions of others. The San Francisco startup has says it has built an index of all the tweets ever posted, creating a resource that Twitter doesn't offer.

Apple Inc. spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the Topsy acquisition Monday without elaborating on the Cupertino, Calif., company's plans for the Twitter analytic tools. The acquisition price wasn't disclosed.

Getting a better grasp on the hottest topics on Twitter could help Apple sell more advertising on iPhones and iPads.

Apple has been trying to boost its mobile advertising revenue for several years.