Apple said to be buying out Italy's Redmatica [u]
updated 01:57 pm EDT, Wed May 30, 2012
Digital music firm could be used to help Logic, GarageBand
(Updated with company, deal info) Apple has bought out an Italian company, Redmatica, reports say. The news was broken a local blog, which also obtained a document supporting the claim from the country's communications regulator, AGCOM. Neither Apple nor Redmatica have confirmed the deal, although Apple rarely makes any announcements about the acquisitions of smaller firms.
Redmatica's revenues were valued at under €100,000 last year, with an income of €26,000. The company is a Mac-focused developer, specializing in music production software. Apple could want Redmatica's staff and/or technology to improve the quality of its own music software, especially Logic Pro; the software has languished in recent years with very few updates, making it hard for Apple to compete with alternatives like Pro Tools or Ableton Live.
Alternately the company could want to place even more emphasis on GarageBand, the more casual music production software supplied with OS X, and also available as a paid iOS app. The latter received special attention during the launch of Apple's third-generation iPad. Redmatica's assets could be used to make GarageBand a more practical tool for musicians.
Update: Redmatica is noted to have just a handful of workers, meaning that Apple could be more interested in just hiring the company's staff. MacStories also points out that the AGCOM document doesn't necessarily mean the deal is finalized, which may support a 9to5Mac rumor that the buyout isn't finished.
