Rumour: Apple In Talks to Buy Xbox Kinect Sensor Company Primesense

Industry leader Apple is reportedly looking to acquire the Israeli fabless semiconductor company Primesense. According to local newspaper Calcalist, the Cupertino company has made an offer around the $280 million mark, to buy the company responsible for the 3D sensor found in Microsoft’s Kinect devices, following discussions over the embedding of its technology inside future Apple products.

In the past, Primsense worked with Microsoft to include its technology, chips, and designs inside the first Kinect accessory for the Xbox 360 games console. Primesense’s 3D-scanning technology is used in more than 20 million devices around the world, including sensors that can be used in both smartphones and tablets.  Primesense technology can also be found in new portable scanners which are capable of generating finely detailed color 3D models of interior spaces.

This is not the first time Apple has looked to purchasing an Israeli component maker.  Back in January 2012, the company confirmed it had acquired the flash storage company Anobit in a deal worth in the region of $400 Million.  While Primesense in the past, has been focused on the gaming world and what it encompasses i.e. technology surrounding the gaming environment, the company’s more recent projects include working with technology forerunners ASUS to provide the 3D sensing technology for its WAVI Xtion PC which allows you to enjoy PC content on the big screen with a wave of your hands through the Xition Portal, for intuitive entertainment in the living room.  The future development of 3D motion-activated games are also rumoured and the company has also collaborated with various companies in the retail field as well as various industries in the fields of robotics and healthcare.

[Image via: Business Insider]

SOURCE: http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4527558/apple-primesense-israeli-3d-sensor-kinect