AppleInsider Staff
It was revealed during Apple's quarterly conference call on Tuesday that the company has made 29 acquisitions since the fiscal year began nine months prior, though many of purchases remain undisclosed.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple bought 29 companies since its fiscal 2014 began last year. The chief executive did not elaborate on specific businesses, though Apple is known to have purchased Beats Electronics, micro-LED maker LuxVue and social search startup Spotsetter.
Also unknown are the prices Apple paid for the 29 acquisitions, though the Beats buy, expected to close by the end of the quarter, was the most expensive in company history at $3 billion.
As for Beats, Cook said the purchase brought on "a very rare set of talent that we think can do great things at Apple and a very fast growing business in their earphone and headphone space."
Other 2014 buys included developer SnappyLabs, TestFlight maker Burstly and note taking mobile app developer Catch.
In the navigation segment, Apple picked up BroadMap, transit data firm Embark, HopStop, Locationary and "indoor GPS" firm WiFiSlam.
Apple also snapped up 3D sensor company PrimeSense and voice recognition tech company Novauris.
Cook reiterated that Apple has the capacity to make strategic buys, but does not let money burn a hole in its pocket. The executive said acquistions are well thought out, with companies chosen on their ability to help Apple make great products.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
11 Comments
[SIZE=3]To illustrate how [I]little[/I] we know about Apple's long game in strategic acquisitions, the following list shows that the best minds have only uncovered about [I]a third[/I] of the chess moves Apple has made in the last 9 months. . . 29 acquisitions - not counting Beats. 1. LuxVue, micro-LED maker 2. Spotsetter, social search startup 3. SnappyLabs, developer 4. Burstly, TestFlight maker 5. Catch, note taking mobile app developer 6. BroadMap, navigation 7. Embark, transit data firm 8. HopStop, 9. Locationary, 10. WiFiSlam, indoor GPS 11. PrimeSense, 3D sensor company 12. Novauris, voice recognition tech company 13. UNK 14. UNK 15. UNK 16. UNK 17. UNK 18. UNK 19. UNK 20. UNK 21. UNK 22. UNK 23. UNK 24. UNK 25. UNK 26. UNK 27. UNK 28. UNK 29. UNK [/SIZE]
Maybe Apple only purchased Beats to distract us from all the other acquisitions. ;) -jks
14. UNK
15. UNK
16. UNK
17. UNK
18. UNK
19. UNK
20. UNK
21. UNK
22. UNK
23. UNK
24. UNK
25. UNK
26. UNK
27. UNK
28. UNK
29. UNK
I hate music today. Are all good percussionists dead?
[quote name="Tallest Skil" url="/t/181519/apple-completed-29-acquisitions-in-past-nine-months-not-including-beats#post_2567905"] I hate music today. Are all good percussionists dead? [/quote] Ginger Baker is still kicking. Based on his past perhaps literally.
[quote name="Macky the Macky" url="/t/181519/apple-completed-29-acquisitions-in-past-nine-months-not-including-beats#post_2567877"][SIZE=3]To illustrate how [I]little[/I] we know about Apple's long game in strategic acquisitions, the following list shows that the best minds have only uncovered about [I]a third[/I] of the chess moves Apple has made in the last 9 months. . . 29 acquisitions - not counting Beats. 1. LuxVue, micro-LED maker 2. Spotsetter, social search startup 3. SnappyLabs, developer 4. Burstly, TestFlight maker 5. Catch, note taking mobile app developer 6. BroadMap, navigation 7. Embark, transit data firm 8. HopStop, 9. Locationary, 10. WiFiSlam, indoor GPS 11. PrimeSense, 3D sensor company 12. Novauris, voice recognition tech company 13. UNK 14. UNK 15. UNK 16. UNK 17. UNK 18. UNK 19. UNK 20. UNK 21. UNK 22. UNK 23. UNK 24. UNK 25. UNK 26. UNK 27. UNK 28. UNK 29. UNK [/SIZE][/quote] Indeed, difficult to find them all! I think these can be added: 13. Cue (Personal assistant) 14. Topsy (Analytics) 15. TestFlight (Feb 21, 2014) I think these were acquired more than 9 months ago, so wouldn't count: Passif Semiconductor Corp (Aug 1, 2013) Embark Inc (Aug 22, 2013, so dito) AlgoTrim AB (Aug 28, 2013, so dito) Strolledment Trollstment: "If you can't beat them, buy them" M&A in the picture: [IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/46120/width/500/height/1000[/IMG] http://metrics.infolinks.com/2014/02/17/tech-mergers-acquisitions-2013/