< A href="http://www.apple.com">Apple Computer has acquired file translation firm SchemaSoft, a 40-person developer of software that allows applications to read and write file formats from other applications. Think Secret broke the story early on Tuesday, and CNet News confirmed it with Apple Tuesday afternoon.
"Apple has acquired assets from SchemaSoft, a developer of software components for facilitating digital information workflow," Apple told CNet News in a statement.
According to the companyis Web site, Apple has been a customer of SchemaSoft, along with Microsoft, Adobe, Disney, and Corel. File translation is a component of software like AppleWorks, Pages, and Keynote (both components of iWork) which can all read and write in variety of file formats.
Think Secret reported that there have been a handful of layoffs since the acquisition, which took place earlier in March. Details of the acquisition have not been announced by either SchemaSoft or Apple.