Apple has acquired San Francisco based startup Embark in efforts to expand its mapping portfolio and incorporate more features to its Maps platform.
Embark, founded in 2011, develops free Android and iOS apps that helps users navigate through a public transit system.
An Apple spokeswoman was quoted by reporter Jessica Lessin saying, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
Embark apps offer users with step-by-step trip planning, offline functionality and notifications.
In July, Apple agreed to acquire online transit-navigation service HopStop.com and Locationary, which offers business-location maps, while it also acquired location-identifying technology maker WifiSLAM in 2013.
In the past, Apple had used mapping applications developed by Google for iPhones, which was discarded after both firms failed to collaborate over voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation.
