Apple acquires augmented reality startup Metaio

Apple has reportedly acquired the augmented reality startup, Metaio, which was founded in 2003 as an offshoot of a project at Volkswagen.

TechCrunch claimed that the company's site had stopped taking new customers and cited a legal document, showing a transfer of the startup's shares to Apple on May 21.

On being asked about the acquisition, Apple stuck to its standard reply: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Metaio, too, refrained from commenting but canceled its user conference in San Francisco earlier this month and later took down the firm's Twitter accounts. It also posted a message on its website, saying that it was ending purchase of products and subscriptions.

The deal is expected to help Apple bolster its virtual reality and augmented reality efforts.