Apple acquires augmented reality software firm Metaio

Buyout suggests Apple is looking to make AR part of its iPhone offering

Apple has purchased Metaio, a German software firm that specialises in the development of augmented reality products.

Although the terms and financial details of the deal aren't known, Apple has confirmed that it's acquiring Metaio but has refused to reveal any extra information about the reasons or goals of the buyout.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.

The Metaio website, which describes the firm as "pioneers in augmented reality and computer vision", has now been stripped back to a skeleton of its former self, as happened with previous Apple acquisitions. The main Metaio Twitter account has also been removed and the company has stopped selling products.

There were rumours that the shutdown of Metaio's online presence would lead to Google to announce the revival of Google Glass at its I/O conference, but no such announcement was made and now Apple has gone public with the deal.

Initially founded in Munich in 2003, Metaio began life as part of Volkswagen before breaking away to release augmented reality (AR) software with applications beyond the realms of motoring.

The firm has also worked on software for use in wearable devices similar to Google Glass. Named "Thermal Touch", this software allows people wearing internet-connected eyewear to turn any surface into a touch screen and Metaio has described it as "a vision of the near future for wearable computing user interfaces".

"Everyone is talking about wearable computing eyewear like Google Glass," said Metaio CTO Peter Meier when the product was launched last year.

"But no one is talking about the best way to actually use those devices. We need natural, convenient interface to navigate the technology of tomorrow, and that's why we developed Thermal Touch."

Speculation about Apple's plans for AR will now be rife. A 9to5Mac report suggests that the firm is adding AR capabilities to its iPhone Maps application which will use the device's camera to provide information about the surrounding area.

Microsoft is also making a strong push into the AR space with its HoloLens project, which Computing got to test in a hands-on session recently.