Apple confirms Anobit acquisition

Apple’s rumored acquisition of Israeli flash storage company Anobit was confirmed today. Apple periodically buys smaller technology companies, such as Siri or Quattro Wireless, but rarely on the hardware side — with the notable recent exceptions of Intrinsity and P.A. Semi. Flash memory is found in virtually all of the company’s mobile devices and an ever-increasing share of its notebook computers. Apple currently buys more flash memory than any other company worldwide — about 23 percent of the global market — and the Anobit deal will likely help drive down the company’s already low production costs.