Apple is the fresh owner of the augmented reality startup Metaio, reports TechCrunch. The purchase is really fresh, since the transfer of the startup’s shares toward the new owner was recorded May 21-22.
Metaio began its activity in 2003. It has grown into a community of 1,000 customers and 150,000 users worldwide in 30 countries since then. But recently, Metaio stopped talking to its clients and suspended its Twitter accounts. Furthermore, it cancelled its user conference in San Francisco earlier this month and informed clients that email tech support will end next month.
This was suspicious to TechCrunch, so it started an investigation on this matter, just to find that the fate of Metaio is in Apple’s hands now. Although the employee the TechCrunch reporter tried to speak to didn’t confirm the acquisition, he shut the door in its face instead, Apple replied with its usual comment after one of its acquisitions gets into the spotlight: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”
Virtual reality could be the next area Apple steps into, and by acquiring Metaio, Apple has taken the first step. The startup has done many amazing projects — you can find two of them inserted below. The first one is a Ferry AR tour, and the second one takes you back in Berlin to the time when the Wall was up.
