Apple Confirms Acquisition Of PrimeSense, The Company Behind Microsoft's Kinect Tech
November 25, 2013
Apple has acquired PrimeSense, the Tel Aviv-based 3-D sensing company behind Microsoft's Kinect technology.
Finalized to the tune of around $360 million, the acquisition was first reported by the Israeli financial newspaper Globes and subsequently confirmed by Apple itself to AllThingsD:
Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the PrimeSense deal with the boilerplate comment the company typically provides when news of one of its acquisitions leaks: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”A week ago, a propitious run-up to the acquisition was reported by Calcalist, the same Isreali business newspaper that first reported that the two parties were in advanced talks for an acquisition deal back in July. PrimeSense constitutes Apple’s second acquisition of an Israeli company, following the flash memory firm Anobit, which Apple acquired in January 2012 for a reported $390 million. Founded in 2005, PrimeSense develops technology that was originally applied to gaming. But it has since branched out into other markets, including robotics, retail, television, and personal and mobile computing. As noted by AllThingsD, PrimeSense has also created sensors for more compact devices than Kinect. These sensors are likely to be used by Apple in developing, say, its long-rumored TV set and smart watch. As far back as three years ago, shortly after Microsoft released Kinect, PrimeSense shopped its flagship 3-D sensing technology to various companies including Apple. But Apple's obsession with secrecy apparently prevented any concrete deal with PrimeSense from happening then. PrimeSense CEO Inon Beracha, who had been asked by Apple to sign a myriad of legal agreements, was even quoted as saying, albeit in a jocular mood: "Apple is a pain in the ass.”