Not long ago, the news broke that Apple had acquired a company named Authentec for a cool $356 million. It’s a huge purchase, and is still awaiting approval from shareholders. Some may have been cynical about Cupertino’s intentions. Many – of the green robot party – assumed it was all about beating Samsung to the punch. Undoubtedly, that may have a little to it, but it appears Apple has a genuine intention to incorporate the firm’s security technology in to its products.

Reading an interesting report over at CNET this afternoon, it became clear that Cook&Co are not messing around. According to some research, it Apple and Authentec had met previously to discuss a licensing agreement. Cupertino was keen on getting hold of the fingerprint sensing technology, but Authentec’s terms were too steep. So, the fruit company decided it’d be best to just buy the whole company.

What that means is that – once the deal goes through – Apple will be free to use the technology as much as it wants, in any of its products. Bad news for Samsung (who did have a partnership in place with Authentec) because the Korean tech firm will have to sign a licensing agreement with Apple. Something the Galaxy makers have avoided so far.

Since Cupertino is keen on killing off BlackBerry in the Business/Enterprise sector before Google gets its act together on the security front, Apple is allegedly in a hurry to get this technology working. Imagine, a home key that detects your finger and unlocks only for you. Or, secure email that only allows the account holder to read it. The possibilities are huge, and as any science fiction movies would tell us, it’s an inevitable part of our future.

Via: CNET