Apple acquires AuthenTec for $365 million

It looks like Apple will be beefing up security on its products in the future. The company has reportedly purchased AuthenTec, Inc – a security software and fingerprint sensor chip company, for $365 million. While the acquisition itself is interesting, what makes it even more remarkable is the fact that AuthenTec had signed a new deal with Samsung only 10 days earlier. Considering how Apple and Samsung are at each other’s throats over patent lawsuits I wonder if this acquisition will affect the Samsung-AuthenTec deal in a negative way.

No word on what Apple plans to do with AuthenTec’s technology, but rumors have it that AuthenTec’s patent portfolio could be the real reason behind the acquisition. Maybe we’ll see NFC in the next iPhone or fingerprint scanners on the iPad. Stay tuned for more details.

George Wong
Categories: Apple