In a deal that has been confirmed by Apple, the tech giant is acquiring California-based communications chips developer Passif Semiconductor. The acquisition is noteworthy because the chips developed by Passif require less power for devices to exchange information with one another.

Since Passif Semiconductor - which was founded by two graduate students at University of California, Berkeley - is largely dedicated to the creation of small and low-power-consumption chipset for devices which benefit from Bluetooth technology, the acquisition of the company by Apple will likely be helpful in developing the much-rumored iWatch-like wearable device.

Despite the fact that Apple has thus far made no official disclosure about how it intends using the Passif expertise for its iWatch device - which will likely be submitted by Apple by end-2013 or early 2014 -, it is evident that the small iWatch device can take advantage of Passif's ultra-low power chipset because the use of big batteries will spoil the aesthetics of the device.

Apple acquisition of Passif Semiconductor - a move which was first reported by former Wall Street Journal reported Jessica Lessin - marks its latest acquisition of a small chip company in recent years.

Noting that "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time," Apple spokesperson Amy Bessette confirmed the Passif acquisition by the company, but refused to divulge any further details; and said: "We generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."