A Summer of Acquisitions May Mean New Technologies Down the Road

When it comes to business, it's dog-eat-dog. When times are tough, companies do what needs to be done to stay afloat - including entering new markets when the old seems to be conquered or saturated. As the new school year approaches, so do some new opportunities for companies looking to deliver new products. Here are some of the late summer company acquisitions that will result in new technology based products down the road.

The name Intel is synonymous with CPU (central processing unit). The manufacturer that has a stronghold on the PC market has also created CPUs for Windows Mobile devices, and for some time now, their CPUs have found a welcome home inside a variety Apple computers. Although Intel CPUs were found to power mobile devices such as the Windows Mobile based Dell Axim PDA, an undiscovered area for Intel is the mobile phone market. In order to combat its own weakness - Intel has acquired the wireless-chip division of Germany's Infineon Technologies AG for $1.4 billion. The all-cash deal announced on Monday August 30^th, 2010 not only gives Intel access to the market, but also delivers the same chip used in the Apple iPhone. Also notable is that two weeks ago, Intel announced plans to buy computer-security software maker McAfee. If approves the multibillion dollar deal would be the biggest acquisition in Intel's 42-year history.

3M is widely known for a number of products including office supplies, adhesives, and specifically, the post-t note. The company also manufactures a range of technology based products, such as, document readers and verification systems, as well as tools that are used for locating buried power lines, or tracking inventory. Location tracking can now be added to that list. On Tuesday, August 31, 2010, it was announced that 3M will pay $230 million in cash for the Israeli company, Attenti Holdings SA. This is a company that makes ankle bracelets and other similar products that are used to keep track of people via GPS (global positioning system). This deal comes only a day after 3M also announced that it was purchasing Cogent Inc., for $943 million. Cogent develops hi-tech systems that read fingerprints, and makes iris and face recognition systems. Both of these deals are reported to close by year's end.

VMware, Inc., the developer of virtualization software has purchased two smaller companies - Integrien and TriCipher. Known for making software that runs on a computer and allows for that computer to run virtual computers within, VMware virtualization products cut costof ownership by reducing the hardware needed to run multiple computers. Now, with the two new acquisitions, VMware will offer analytics software, and software for management of logins and authentications.

Sources Resources:

Yahoo News: Intel buys wireless chip tech in mobile-phone push
Yahoo News: 3M buying maker of products used to track people
Yahoo News: VMWare buys software makers Integrien, TriCipher