Apple Acquires PrimeSense For About $345 Mln.: Reports

(RTTNews) - Apple has reportedly acquired PrimeSense, an Israel based supplier of motion gaming devices, in a deal valued at about $345 million.

News reports out of Israel indicated the acquisition as yet another move by Apple to bolster its much-anticipated iTV project. Besides, Apple may also want to integrate motion sensing technology in other products including iPhones, iPads, or MacBooks.

It is also speculated that Apple may be working on a 3D gesture interface for which the technology giant has already gathered some patents of its own.

PrimeSense previously had been a supplier for Microsoft's Kinect gaming device, which incorporated cameras and depth sensors, allowing players to control games using gestures. The company more recently released a smaller generation gaming device, named Capri, exclusively for mobile uses.

The PrimeSense acquisition would be Apple's second purchase of an Israeli company. The iPhone, iPad maker had previously acquired flash-memory maker Anobit in a deal worth about $500 million.

According to a report by Calcalist, PrimeSense has reportedly raised $85 million from venture capital funds like Canaan Partners Global, Gemeni Israel, and Genesis Partners. However, the report was dismissed by PrimeSense, with official confirmation of the acquisition expected to come out in a couple of weeks.