Apple snaps up augmented reality specialists
Apple has acquired German technology business Metaio, which specialises in developing augmented reality applications.
The deal was officially disclosed last week when the iPhone maker filed a document with a Munich court. It revealed Apple is now Metaio’s sole shareholder but did not disclose the fee.
The augmented reality firm, which was originally spun out from Volkswagen in 2003, has had several previous investors.
The company’s augmented reality software is used to overlay graphical enhancements onto products and environments in order to enhance the customer experience. From virtual showrooms to visual manuals for operating complex equipment, augmented reality software is being trialed by a number of brands such as Ikea and Audi in order to asses the best applications for consumers.
Apple’s acquisition of Metaio’s stokes the flames around its imminent arrival into the augmented reality arena. The firm reportedly formed a small team earlier this year to explore the space that would allow it develop more holistic services that people crave rather than be solely dependent on its product offering.
Apps in the mobile games market will generate 420 million download annually by 2019, up from 30 million in 2014, according to Juniper Research. Consequently, revenues from apps focusing providing all manner of augmented reality beyond just gaming will jump from $184m to $1.3bn in the period.