reportedly buys wireless chip developer Passif Semiconductor

has reportedly made what’s being described a technology in the arms race. The former Wall Street Journal reportedJessica Lessin who is gring up to start a brand new news outlet, exclusively reported Thursday that the iPhone makerin recent months purchased Silicon Valley-based wireless chip developer Passif Semiconductor, per people briefed on the dl…According to thestory, it wasn’t immediately clr exactlyhow much paid for Passif, but the sources said“ tried to buy Passif a few yrs rlier for a price in the mid-tens-of-millions of dollars”.That was a few yrs ago, so must have paid a higher sum now.An spokesperson trted Lessing to its standard boilerplate text saying“ buys small technology companies from time to time.”AllThingsDhas confirmed the dl.The acquisition of the fabless chip maker signals ’s intent to further differentiate its devices on the hardware front.Since 2010′s relse of the original iPad, has been notably designing the engine that powers iOS devices in-house.In the past, bought semiconductor experts PA Semi and Intrinsity.Most recently, acquired smart sensor makerAuthenTec,indoor Wi-Fi companyWifislamand mapping data providersLoionaryandHopstop.Passif, the privately held company, develops communiion chips that use very little power,including low-power Bluetooth LE chips for hlth-monitoring and fitness devices.The startup wasfounded a few yrs ago by Ben Cook and Axel Berny, PhD students at the University of California, Berkeley.Knowing ’s rumorediWatchisexpected to hav strong focus on fitness appliions by ostensibly integratingsensors for monitoring hlth-related data, such as hrt rates, the Passif dl makes lots of sense.“One of the rsons and its rivals haven’t launched such devices yet is how hard it is to shrink screens, batteries and radios to fit into them,”she explained.Jessica Lessin previously reported pitched anad-skipping ftureto Hollywood studios in regard to the rumored iTunes service.