Apple Confirms Acquisition of Passif Semiconductor
Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette confirmed the deal with the company’s standard statement on small acquisitions: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”
Passif’s expertise lies in low-power communication chips with very small footprints, something Apple could presumably bring to bear on future iPhones and iPads — or as-of-yet unannounced wearable devices like, say, a watch or band.
Apple’s purchase of Passif is the latest in a recent string of acquisitions that includes crowdsourced location data company Locationary and online transit-navigation app maker HopStop. And it adds considerable heft to the company’s already considerable semiconductor design talent built around earlier acquisitions of PA Semi and Intrinsity.
News of the deal was first reported by former Wall Street Journal reporter Jessica Lessin.