Viitoarele terminale iPhone, tablete iPad sau Mac-uri vor putea citi amprente

  Acum cateva luni de zile Apple a achizitionat compania AuthenTec intr-o tranzactie valorificata la cateva sute de milioane de dolari. Desi atunci nu se stia exact pentru ce a achizitionat Apple compania care dezvolta solutii de securitate, documentatia oficiala a tranzactiei ofera toate detaliile importante pe care trebuie sa stim. Se pare ca Apple a incercat initial sa achizitioneze o anumita tehnologie de la companie si dupa ce a esuat sa o convinga pe aceasta sa vanda doar acea tehnologie, a facut o oferta pentru achizitionarea intregii companii.

The document revealed negotiations with Apple began in late 2011 when AuthenTec began approaching “several leading consumer electronics companies” regarding acquiring a new technology. After an agreement with Apple made in Feb. 2012 to acquire the new technology fell through, Apple ultimately offered to acquire the company. On May 1, Apple decided it wouldn’t be satisfied with a commercial agreement and notified AuthenTec’s representatives of its proposal to acquire the company instead. Apple offered a price of $7.00 per share, valuing AuthenTec at a 115% premium over the closing price of its common stock as a day previous, pricing that Apple believed “other potential buyers would be unwilling to pay.”

  Din aceeasi documentatie publicata recent reiese faptul ca Apple era interesata sa achizitioneze o tehnologie care permite citirea in format 2D a amprentelor si sa o implementeze in iDevice/Mac-uri in viitor. Din moment ce Apple a platit pe aceasta companie un pret mai mare decat cel la care era ea listata la bursa, putem trage concluzia ca tehnologia dorita de ea este importanta si va ajunge intr-un viitor nu prea indepartat in iDevice-uri.

The IP agreement provides Apple with the right to acquire non-exclusive licenses and certain other rights with respect to hardware technology, software technology and patents of the Company for commercialization of 2D fingerprint sensors for use in or with Apple products. For the right to acquire such non-exclusive licenses and other rights, Apple will pay us $20.0 million. Apple will have 270 days from the date of the IP agreement to choose, in its sole discretion, to license certain hardware technology and patents and certain software technology and patents from us on a perpetual, non-exclusive basis for an aggregate sum of up to $115.0 million. Apple can choose to acquire either the non-exclusive hardware technology and patent rights ($90.0 million), the non-exclusive software technology and patent rights ($25.0 million) or both.

  Desigur ca nimeni nu stie acum cand anume va implementa Apple tehnologia respectiva in produsele sale, insa toate informatiile publicate sugereaza faptul ca, compania fie ar fi inceput deja sa dezvolte iDevice/Mac-uri care o contin, fie procesul de dezvoltare va incepe in viitorul apropiat. Acum vorbind serios, este oare nevoie de un cititor de amprente in iDevice-urile noastre? Desigur ca el ar fi foarte util pentru politie sau alte organisme asemanatoare, insa oare noi avem nevoie de el?

As a result of its focus on timing, Apple’s representatives also informed the Company that Apple would not participate in an auction process and would rescind its proposal if the board decided to solicit alternative acquisition proposals for the Company. Mr. Ciaccia responded that he would convene a board meeting to discuss the proposal and would revert to Apple with the board’s position on Apple’s proposal…. Apple emphasized its requirement that the development of the technology would not be interrupted regardless of whether the proposed transaction was completed. On the evening of July 19, the parties agreed to the key terms of the IP agreement and the development agreement.