Apple has recently agreed to acquire Israel’s PrimeSense Ltd., in a deal of about $350 Million after months of speculation indicating the company’s thinking of use of PrimeSense’s technology in its devices. PrimeSense is the manufacturer of chips enabling 3D machine sensing, so that it could detect movements and objects in space, and then translates that into depth and color.
PrimeSense’s technology has already been utilized in Microsoft’s first-generation Xbox Kinect.
“We are focused on building a prosperous company while bringing 3D sensing and natural interaction to the mass market in a variety of markets such as interactive living room and mobile devices,” a spokeswoman for PrimeSense said in a statement. “We do not comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and we do not relate to rumors or recycled rumors.”
“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple, said.
Previously, Apple bought Israeli flash storage chip manufacturer Anobit in January 2012. So, it is the second purchase of Israeli company by Apple Inc. Besides this, Apple has also bought several chip makers including Passif Semiconductor this year, Intrinsity in 2010 and P.A. Semi in 2008.
Sources:
Apple buys Israel’s PrimeSense for $345 million: report – Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/17/us-primesense-apple-idUSBRE9AG03G20131117)
Apple Agrees to $350 Million Deal for Israel’s PrimeSense – Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-24/apple-agrees-to-350-million-deal-for-israel-s-primesense.html)
