International. Apple bought U.S. computer security firm AuthenTec, which provides data encryption and fingerprint recognition technology already used in millions of mobile phones, for $356 million.
Documents filed with regulatory authorities said Apple paid $8 per share of AuthenTec, a Florida-based firm created in 1998.
AuthenTec's customers include Apple's main rival Samsung, as well as other tech companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Fujitsu and Hewlett-Packard.
Security devices "protect individuals and organizations through secure networks, data protection and content, access control, and fingerprint recognition on desktop and mobile devices," according to AuthenTec's website.
The firm has sold more than 100 million fingerprint sensors and portable electronic devices, including 15 million mobile phones.
The initiative comes amid concerns in the computer world about possible hacker attacks on mobile devices, especially Apple devices or those running Google's Android operating system.
The acquisition was announced just hours after Apple talked about its security devices in an unprecedented speech at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas (Nevada, USA).
For an hour, the director of Apple's security program platform, Dallas De Atley, explained the encryption process and other protection features built into the popular iPhone, iPod and iPad.
