Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and software products. It was established in Cupertino, California, on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne,[1][2] and was incorporated on January 3, 1977.[3][4] The company's hardware products include the Macintosh line of personal computers, the iPod line of portable media players, the iPad line of tablets, the iPhone line of smartphones, the Apple TV line of digital media players, and the Apple Watch line of smartwatches. Apple's software products include the macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS operating systems, the iTunes media player, the Safari web browser, and the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software.[5] As of July 2023[update], Apple is publicly known to have acquired more than 100 companies. The actual number of acquisitions is possibly larger as Apple does not reveal the majority of its acquisitions unless discovered by the press. Apple has cofounded two half-equity partnerships and purchased equity stakes in three preexisting companies, and has made three divestments. Apple has not released the financial details for the majority of its mergers and acquisitions.
Apple's business philosophy is to acquire small companies that can be easily integrated into existing company projects.[6] For instance, Apple acquired Emagic and its professional music software, Logic Pro, in 2002. The acquisition was incorporated in the creation of the digital audio workstation software GarageBand, an integral part of the iLife software suite, and now one of the leading digital audio workstations on iOS and MacOS.[6]
The company made its first acquisition on March 2, 1988, with its purchase of Network Innovations. In 2013, Apple acquired thirteen companies. Apple's largest acquisition was that of Beats Electronics in August 2014 for $3 billion.[7] Of the companies Apple has acquired, 71 were based in the United States.
In early-May 2019, Apple CEO Tim Cook said to CNBC that Apple acquires a company every two to three weeks on average, having acquired 20 to 25 companies in the past six months alone.[8]
Date | Company | Business | Country | Value (USD) | References | Derived products | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | March 2, 1988 | Network Innovations | Software | ![]() |
— | [9] | Data Access Language (DAL) |
2 | June 7, 1988 | Orion Network Systems | Computer Software | ![]() |
— | [10] | SNA*ps |
3 | June 27, 1988 | Styleware[note 1] | Computer software | ![]() |
— | [11] | AppleWorks GS, iWork, iLife |
4 | July 11, 1988 | Nashoba Systems[note 1] | Computer software | ![]() |
— | [12] | FileMaker |
5 | January 3, 1989 | Coral Software | Computer software | ![]() |
— | [13][14] | Macintosh Common Lisp |
6 | February 7, 1997 | NeXT | Unix-like hardware and software platform | ![]() |
404,000,000 | [15] | Mac OS X/macOS, Darwin, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, audioOS |
7 | September 2, 1997 | Power Computing Corporation | Macintosh clones | ![]() |
110,000,000 | [16][17] | — |
8 | January 8, 1999 | Xemplar Education | Software | ![]() |
4,926,000 | [18] | — |
9 | November 3, 1999 | Raycer Graphics | Computer graphic chips | ![]() |
15,000,000 | [19] | — |
10 | January 7, 2000 | NetSelector | Internet software | ![]() |
— | [20] | — |
11 | April 11, 2000 | Astarte-DVD Authoring Software[note 2] | Software | ![]() |
— | [21] | DVD Studio Pro, iDVD |
12 | 2000 (Q4) | SoundJam MP[note 3] | Software | ![]() |
— | [22] | iTunes |
13 | Early 2001 | Bluefish Labs | Productivity software | ![]() |
— | [23] | iWork |
14 | May 11, 2001 | bluebuzz | Internet service provider (ISP) | ![]() |
— | [24] | — |
15 | July 9, 2001 | Spruce Technologies[note 4] | Graphics software | ![]() |
14,900,000 | [25][26] | DVD Studio Pro |
16 | December 31, 2001 | PowerSchool | Online info systems services | ![]() |
66,100,000 | [26][27] | PowerSchool |
17 | February 1, 2002 | Nothing Real | Special effects software | ![]() |
15,000,000 | [26][28] | Shake |
18 | April 4, 2002 | Zayante | FireWire chips and software | ![]() |
13,000,000[note 5] | [29][30][31] | FireWire |
19 | June 11, 2002 | Silicon Grail Corp-Chalice[note 6][note 7] | Digital effects software | ![]() |
20,000,000[note 8] | [30][32] | Motion |
20 | June 20, 2002 | Propel Software | internet and network optimization for wireless carriers | ![]() |
— | [33] | Safari |
21 | June 21, 2002 | Prismo Graphics[note 7] | Special-effects titling software for film and video | ![]() |
20,000,000[note 8] | [30][34] | LiveType |
22 | July 1, 2002 | Emagic | Music production software | ![]() |
30,000,000 | [26][35] | Logic Pro, GarageBand |
23 | March 2005 | SchemaSoft | Software | ![]() |
— | [36] | iWork |
24 | April 2005 | FingerWorks | Gesture recognition company | ![]() |
— | [37][38] | iOS |
25 | October 16, 2006 | Silicon Color | Software | ![]() |
— | [39] | Color |
26 | December 4, 2006 | Proximity | Software | ![]() |
— | [40] | Final Cut Server |
27 | April 24, 2008 | P.A. Semi | Semiconductors | ![]() |
278,000,000 | [41][42] | Apple SoC |
28 | July 7, 2009 | Placebase | Maps | ![]() |
— | [43] | Apple Maps |
29 | December 4, 2009 | Lala.com | Music streaming | ![]() |
17,000,000 | [44] | iCloud, iTunes Match |
30 | January 5, 2010 | Quattro Wireless | Mobile advertising | ![]() |
275,000,000 | [45] | iAd |
31 | April 27, 2010 | Intrinsity | Semiconductors | ![]() |
121,000,000 | [46] | Apple SoC |
32 | April 27, 2010 | Siri | Voice control software | ![]() |
— | [47] | Siri |
33 | May 10, 2010 | Gipsy Moth Studios | Application Regionalization Firm | ![]() |
12,000,000 | [48] | iPod, iPhone, iPad |
34 | July 14, 2010 | Poly9 | Web-based mapping | ![]() |
— | [49] | Apple Maps |
35 | September 20, 2010 | Polar Rose | Facial recognition | ![]() |
29,000,000 | [50] | iOS |
36 | September 14, 2010 | IMSense | High-dynamic-range (HDR) photography | ![]() |
— | [51] | iOS |
37 | August 1, 2011 | C3 Technologies | 3D mapping | ![]() |
267,000,000 | [52] | Maps |
38 | December 20, 2011 | Anobit | Flash memory | ![]() |
500,000,000 | [53] | iPod, iPhone, iPad |
39 | February 23, 2012 | Chomp | App search engine | ![]() |
50,000,000 | [54] | App Store |
40 | June 2, 2012 | Redmatica | Audio | ![]() |
— | [55] | Logic Pro, GarageBand |
41 | July 27, 2012 | AuthenTec | PC and mobile security products | ![]() |
356,000,000 | [56] | Touch ID |
42 | September 27, 2012 | Particle | HTML5 Web app firm | ![]() |
— | [57] | iCloud, iAd |
43 | 2013 | Novauris Technologies | Speech recognition | ![]() |
— | [58][59] | Siri |
44 | 2013 | OttoCat | Search engine | ![]() |
— | [60] | App Store |
45 | March 23, 2013 | WiFiSlam | Indoor location | ![]() |
20,000,000 | [61] | Apple Maps |
46 | July 19, 2013 | Locationary | Maps | ![]() |
— | [62] | Apple Maps |
47 | July 19, 2013 | HopStop.com | Maps | ![]() |
— | [63] | Apple Maps |
48 | August 1, 2013 | Passif Semiconductor | Semiconductors | ![]() |
— | [64] | Apple SoC |
49 | August 13, 2013 | Matcha | Media discovery app | ![]() |
— | [65] | TV app for Apple TV and iOS |
50 | August 22, 2013 | Embark | Maps | ![]() |
— | [66] | Apple Maps |
51 | August 28, 2013 | AlgoTrim | Mobile data compression[citation needed] | ![]() |
— | [67] | iOS |
52 | October 3, 2013 | Cue | Personal assistant | ![]() |
50,000,000 | [68] | Siri |
53 | November 24, 2013 | PrimeSense | Structured-light 3D scanners | ![]() |
360,000,000 | [69] | Face ID, TrueDepth[70][71] |
54 | December 2, 2013 | Topsy | Analytics | ![]() |
200,000,000 | [72] | App Store, Apple Music, iTunes Store[73] |
55 | December 23, 2013 | BroadMap | Maps | ![]() |
— | [74] | Apple Maps |
56 | December 23, 2013 | Catch.com | Software | ![]() |
— | [74] | Siri |
57 | December 2013 | Acunu | Database analytics | ![]() |
— | [75] | iCloud |
58 | January 4, 2014 | SnappyLabs | Photography software | ![]() |
— | [76] | Camera |
59 | February 21, 2014 | Burstly | Software testing | ![]() |
— | [77] | TestFlight, App Store |
60 | May 2, 2014 | LuxVue Technology | microLED displays | ![]() |
— | [78] | MacBook Pro (Apple silicon), iPad Pro (5th generation) |
61 | June 6, 2014 | Spotsetter | Social search engine | ![]() |
— | [79] | Apple Maps |
62 | June 29, 2014 | Swell | Music streaming | ![]() |
30,000,000 | [80] | Apple Music |
63 | June 29, 2014 | BookLamp | Book analytics | ![]() |
— | [81][82] | iBooks |
64 | August 1, 2014 | Beats Electronics | Headphones, music streaming (Beats Music) | ![]() |
3,000,000,000 | [7] | iPhone, iTunes, Apple Music |
65 | September 23, 2014 | Prss | Digital magazine | ![]() |
— | [83] | Apple News[84] |
66 | 2014 | Dryft | On-Screen Keyboard | ![]() |
— | [85] | iOS Keyboard |
67 | January 2015 | Camel Audio | Audio plug-ins and sound libraries | ![]() |
— | [86] | Logic Pro |
68 | January 21, 2015 | Semetric | Music analytics | ![]() |
50,000,000 | [87][88] | Apple Music, iTunes Store |
69 | March 24, 2015 | FoundationDB | Database | ![]() |
— | [89] | iMessage Backend |
70 | April 14, 2015 | LinX | Camera | ![]() |
20,000,000 | [90] | iPhone Camera |
71 | April 2015 | Coherent Navigation | GPS | ![]() |
— | [91] | Apple Maps |
72 | May 2015 | Metaio | Augmented reality | ![]() |
— | [92] | ARKit |
73 | September 2015 | Mapsense | Mapping visualization and data collection | ![]() |
25,000,000-30,000,000 | [93][94] | Apple Maps |
74 | September 2015 | VocalIQ | Speech technology | ![]() |
— | [95] | Siri |
75 | September 2015 | Perceptio | Machine learning, Image recognition | ![]() |
— | [96] | Face ID, Animoji, Photos |
76 | November 2015 | Faceshift | Realtime Motion Capture | ![]() |
— | [97][98] | Animoji |
77 | January 7, 2016 | Emotient | Emotion recognition | ![]() |
— | [99][100][101] | Face ID, Animoji[102] |
78 | January 28, 2016 | LearnSprout | Education technology | ![]() |
— | [103][104] | Classroom iPad App |
79 | January 29, 2016 | Flyby Media | Augmented reality | ![]() |
— | [105] | ARKit |
80 | February 3, 2016 | LegbaCore | Platform security | ![]() |
— | [106] | Exposed firmware exploit in Apple computers.[106] |
81 | August 5, 2016 | Turi | Machine learning | ![]() |
200,000,000 | [107][108][109] | Xcode, Core ML |
82 | August 22, 2016 | Gliimpse | Personal health info collection company | ![]() |
— | [110][111][112] | HealthKit, CareKit, ResearchKit |
83 | September 22, 2016 | Tuplejump | Machine learning | ![]() |
— | [113][114] | Siri, CoreML |
84 | December 1, 2016 | Indoor.io | Indoor mapping and navigation | ![]() |
— | [115] | Maps, Project Titan |
85 | March 23, 2017 | Workflow | Automation and scripting app | ![]() |
— | [116][117] | Shortcuts |
86 | May 8, 2017 | Beddit | Sleep tracking hardware | ![]() |
— | [118][119] | iOS, watchOS, Apple Watch |
87 | May 13, 2017 | Lattice Data | Artificial intelligence | ![]() |
200,000,000 | [120] | Photos |
88 | June 16, 2017 | SensoMotoric Instruments | Eye tracking hardware and software | ![]() |
— | [121] | ARKit |
89 | September 22, 2017 | Vrvana | Augmented reality head-mounted display | ![]() |
30,000,000 | [122] | ARKit |
90 | September 29, 2017 | Regaind | Computer vision | ![]() |
— | [123] | Photos |
91 | October 2017 | init.ai | Messaging assistant | ![]() |
— | [124] | Siri |
92 | October 2017 | PowerbyProxi | Wireless charging | ![]() |
— | [125][126] | iPhone, AirPower |
93 | November 9, 2017 | InVisage Technologies | Quantum dot-based image sensors | ![]() |
— | [127] | iPhone, iPad |
94 | December 5, 2017 | Pop Up Archive | Tools for searching digital spoken words | ![]() |
— | [128] | iTunes, Apple Music |
95 | December 2017 | Spektral | Computer vision, real-time editing | ![]() |
30,000,000 | [129][130][131] | Photos, iOS |
96 | 2018 | Laserlike | Machine learning | ![]() |
— | [132] | Siri, CoreML framework |
97 | 2018 | Silk Labs | Artificial Intelligence, home monitoring | ![]() |
— | [133] | — |
98 | 2018 | Tueo Health | Asthma monitoring | ![]() |
— | [134][135] | — |
99 | December 10, 2017 | Silicon Valley Data Science | Data science, data engineering, analytics | ![]() |
— | [136][137] | Digital Advertising |
100 | January 2, 2018 | Buddybuild | Continuous integration, debugging, and testing for mobile apps. | ![]() |
— | [138][139] | Xcode, TestFlight |
101 | March 12, 2018 | Texture | Digital magazine subscription service | ![]() |
— | [140] | Apple News+ |
102 | August 29, 2018 | Akonia Holographics | Lenses for augmented reality glasses | ![]() |
— | [141][142] | — |
103 | September 24, 2018 | Shazam | Music and Image recognition | ![]() |
400,000,000 | [143][144][145] | iTunes, Siri, Apple Music |
104 | October 11, 2018 | Dialog Semiconductor (portions) | Chip development | ![]() |
600,000,000 | [146][147] | — |
106 | December 7, 2018 | Platoon | Artist development | ![]() |
— | [148][149] | — |
107 | February 15, 2019 | PullString | Speech technology | ![]() |
— | [150] | Siri; Company also known as ToyTalk[150] |
108 | March 21, 2019 | Stamplay | Backend workflow development | ![]() |
5,600,000 | [151] | — |
109 | June 25, 2019 | Drive.ai | Autonomous vehicles | ![]() |
— | [152] | — |
110 | July 25, 2019 | Intel's smartphone modem business | Smartphone modems | ![]() |
1,000,000,000 | [153] | Apple SoC |
111 | October 3, 2019 | IKinema | Motion capture | ![]() |
— | [154] | — |
112 | December 12, 2019 | Spectral Edge | Low-light photography | ![]() |
— | [155] | — |
113 | January 15, 2020 | Xnor.ai | Edge computing, artificial intelligence | ![]() |
200,000,000 | [156] | — |
114 | Early 2020 | Scout FM | Podcast A.I. | — | — | [157] | Podcasts, Apple Music, ITunes |
115 | March 31, 2020 | Dark Sky | Weather forecasting and app | ![]() |
— | [158] | Weather (Apple), WeatherKit framework |
116 | April 3, 2020 | Voysis | Artificial intelligence/voice assistant | ![]() |
— | [159][160] | Siri |
117 | May 14, 2020 | NextVR | Virtual reality events | ![]() |
100,000,000 | [161] | |
118 | June 24, 2020 | Fleetsmith | Mobile device management | ![]() |
— | [162] [163] [164] | Apple Business Essentials |
119 | July 31, 2020 | Mobeewave | Payments startup | ![]() |
100,000,000 | [165] | iPhone |
120 | August 20, 2020 | Camerai | AR | ![]() |
— | [166] | |
121 | August 25, 2020 | Spaces | VR startup | ![]() |
— | [167] | |
122 | January 15, 2021 | Curious AI | Core AI startup | ![]() |
— | [168] | |
123 | August 30, 2021 | Primephonic | Classical music streaming service | ![]() |
— | [169] | Apple Music Classical |
124 | February 7, 2022 | AI Music | Music production | ![]() |
— | [170] | Apple Music |
125 | March 23, 2022 | Credit Kudos inc | Fintech | ![]() |
150,000,000 | [171] | Apple Card |
126 | June 5, 2023 | Mira Labs | Augmented reality | ![]() |
— | [172] | Apple Vision Pro |
Date | Company | Business | Country | Value (USD) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Kaleida Labs | AIM alliance multimedia software[note 9] | ![]() |
— | |
March 2, 1992 | Taligent Inc. | AIM alliance operating system[note 9] | ![]() |
— | |
June 1, 1999 | Akamai Technologies | Web site support services | ![]() |
12,500,000[note 10] | [173] |
December 18, 2008 | Imagination Technologies | Chip design | ![]() |
4,700,000[note 11] | [174][175][176] |
May 12, 2016 | Didi Chuxing | Ridesharing company | ![]() |
1,000,000,000 | [177][178] |
Date | Acquirer | Target company | Target business | Acquirer country/nationality | Value (USD) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 22, 1992 | Misys Computer Maintenance | Sign Express Group | Maintenance activities | ![]() |
705,000 | [179] |
May 31, 1996 | SCI Systems | Apple Computer-Manufacturing | Computers | ![]() |
— | [180] |
May 25, 2006 | Pearson Education | PowerSchool | Student information system | ![]() |
— | [181] |
April 21, 2010 | Google Inc. | Agnilux Inc. | Information technology services | ![]() |
— | [182] |
Date | Investor | Investor country/nationality | Value (USD) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 2, 1997 | Al-Waleed bin Talal | ![]() |
115,000,000[note 12] | [183][184] |
August 6, 1997 | Microsoft | ![]() |
150,000,000[note 13] | [185][186] |
August 7, 1997 | Grupo Carso | ![]() |
60,650,000[note 14] | [187] |
Apple Inc. is a public, joint-stock company registered with the SEC. As of December 31, 2018[update], it has 4,715,280,000 outstanding shares. These are mainly held by institutional investors and funds.[188][189][190] The top 16 institutional shareholders (and eight related, notable funds with over 25 million shares)[189] are:[188]