14 DAY TRIAL // In early July, Redmond-based software giant Microsoft announced plans to purchase Perceptive Pixel, the maker of high-performance multi-touch workstations and wall solutions.
On Monday, July 30, only a few weeks after the initial announcement, Microsoft made it public that all the necessary conditions for completing the transaction were met.
Following the completion of the deal, Microsoft will integrate Perceptive Pixel into its Office Division, just as initially announced. Microsoft did not disclose specific details on the transaction.
“I’m excited to share that all closing conditions for Microsoft’s acquisition of Perceptive Pixel (PPI) have been met, and the deal is completed,” Giovanni Mezgec, general manager, Office Division, Microsoft, notes in a blog post.
“PPI Founder, President, and CTO Jeff Han joins Microsoft as a general manager and will report to Kurt DelBene.”
Products developed by PPI are currently being used in a wide range of domains, including broadcast, government, defense, energy, higher education, engineering and product design.
The company’s hardware is currently being sold in the $80,000 range, yet Microsoft is supposedly looking at ways to make it cheaper.
Microsoft has been focused on touch displays lately, especially with the launch of Windows 8 on touch-enabled tablet PCs, and with the upcoming availability of its own such slate, Microsoft Surface.
What’s interesting is that the software giant will include the purchased company into its Office Division. According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, this suggests that Microsoft is moving forth with its plans to make meetings great.
This includes bringing enhancements to Outlook invitations, PowerPoint presentations (and broadcasting), and even note taking. The final results of this integration are still shrouded in mystery.
However, the aforementioned blog post also mentions that the move will enable the Redmond-based company to develop new scenarios in collaboration and presentations.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome PPI to the Microsoft Office Division. PPI’s expertise in hardware, software and thought leadership will contribute to success in broad scenarios such as collaboration, meetings and presentations,” Giovanni Mezgec said.