19 November 2012, 17:04

Report: Apple's AuthenTec sells embedded security division

Apple's July acquisition of AuthenTec appears to be driven by an interest in the company's fingerprint/NFC technology, according to a report in NFCWorld, after the sale of AuthenTec's Embedded Security Solutions(ESS) division. AuthenTec has sold the embedded encryption and security block IP-creating ESS division to Inside Secure, an NFC specialist. Inside Secure have confirmed their acquisition, which should see them pay $48 million in total for the ESS division.

This leaves AuthenTec with three divisions, a TouchChip division, a Smart Sensors division and an Identity Management division. The latter two divisions have had their products withdrawn from the market which, NFCWorld believes, is an indication that Apple will retain ownership of those divisions and make use of the Smart Sensor fingerprint technology and identity management solutions in future products. Apple purchased AuthenTec for $356 million in July, but has not officially disclosed its plans for the company's various technologies.

(djwm)

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