Apple acquires 4th start-up from Israel: RealFace, biometric facial recognition

Aimed at making passwords redundant, Apple makes its fourth Israeli acquisition, a Tel Aviv-based company that offers its users secure biometric logins, bought for an estimated $2 million.

News Agencies & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Multinational technology company Apple Inc. has bought Israeli startup RealFace Technology for an estimated $2 million, Israeli media reported Sunday.

Founded in 2014 by Adi Eckhouse Barzilai and Aviv Mader, the Tel Aviv-based startup is a leading developer of facial recognition technology. Its software offers users a smart biometric login, with the aim of making passwords redundant when accessing mobile devices or personal computers.

According to the Jewish Business News, RealFace has 10 employees, and it had raised $1 million prior to Apple’s acquisition. The company’s software is sold in Israel, China, Europe, and the United States.

While no press release was issued by either company, the Israel21c website said RealFace’s online presence “disappeared” Sunday upon news of the buyout, with both its website and its Facebook page going offline.

According to the financial daily Calcalist, this is Apple’s fourth acquisition in Israel. In 2011, Apple acquired flash memory maker Anobit for a reported $400 million; in November 2013 it bought 3D sensor company PrimeSense for a reported $345 million; and in 2015 it purchased LinX for an estimated $20 million.

 

View original Israel Hayom publication at:
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=40497