Apple Inc. said it purchased data-analytics firm Topsy Labs Inc., as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook uses deals to add new technology for the company’s products.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” said Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman at Apple. She declined to comment on how Topsy’s technology would be used.

Topsy’s service helps companies analyze consumer sentiment on microblogging service Twitter, be it a response to TV programming or politics. The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that Apple paid more than $200 million for the company.

Apple has stepped up the pace of acquisitions. Last month, the Cupertino, California-based company purchased PrimeSense, an Israeli maker of motion-tracking technology. It also has this year acquired navigation-software company Embark, online transit-navigation service HopStop.com, business-locations maps company Locationary, and WifiSLAM, which makes location-identifying technology for when a smartphone user is inside a building.

The underlying technology Apple acquires is often used to enhance existing services or for future products. The company last year purchased fingerprint-security firm AuthenTec Inc., whose technology was recently incorporated in to the new iPhone 5s. Purchases of navigation companies have been used to improve its mapping software.