UPDATED 09:57 EDT / DECEMBER 20 2011

Apple Acquires Anobit, or Did They?

Mobile giant Apple acquired Israel-based flash memory startup Anobit for around $400-$500 million, claims Israel’s Calcalist business new site. The report further said that Anobit informed its employees about Apple’s offer and they will soon operate under Apple’s leadership. Calcalist’s report today follows a claim from last week, saying Apple and Anobit are in talks about acquisition.

While this story may be running wild, it’s important to take note that neither of the companies involved in the alleged deal have confirmed the move, or even commented on the matter. If it turns out to be true, it wouldn’t be a very surprising move, as Apple’s completed deals in the past that they didn’t announce.

But there’s another seemingly dead giveaway. The Israeli prime minister’s Twitter account which is run by new media director Eitan Eliram congratulated Apple in a tweet for its first acquisition in Israel.

“Welcome to Israel, Apple Inc., on your 1st acquisition here,” the prime minister’s office tweeted. “I’m certain that you’ll benefit from the fruit of the Israeli knowledge.”

Still, it’s not clear whether the response is based on inside knowledge or just riding the wave of what has been going in rumor-ville.

Apple is an existing Anobit customer, with the latter’s flash memory technology existing on Apple’s iPhone, iPad and Macbook Air, on top of selling enterprise storage solutions. The acquisition will mean increased margins for Apple as they cut cost for their memory in not having to pay premium prices to third parties anymore.

Another interesting thing about this acquisition is that Samsung is also a customer of the Israeli company.  Samsung and Apple are partners in mobile device manufacturing, so similarities in that regard aren’t entirely shocking. But given the gruesome legal battles that have flared up between the two mobile giants, it certainly makes Apple’s interest in Anobit all the more intriguing.


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