Apple Confirms Flash Memory Maker Buy

Apple on Tuesday confirmed that it bought Israeli flash memory maker Anobit Technologies Ltd. in December. The purchase was rumored last month, but Apple spokesman Steve Dowling’s acknowledgement to Bloomberg was the first official comment.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” Mr. Dowling said. In typical Apple fashion, he refused to elaborate.

According to Bloomberg, Anobit’s proprietary technology is said to improve flash memory performance. Given the fact that Apple is the single largest buyer of flash memory in the world, grabbing 23 percent of it last quarter, the purchase makes sense. Apple’s entry-level MacBook Air laptops use only flash storage, and it’s not a stretch to imagine the rest of the Mac lineup moving to that technology in the coming years.

Bloomberg also noted that Anobit is Apple’s first Israeli acquisition. Intel, HP, and Microsoft have all previously established presences in the country, which houses the largest number of startups per capita in the world and which boasts 60 firms whose stock is traded on Nasdaq, the third most after the U.S. and China.