Intel announced Wednesday that it has purchased Israeli 3-D video tech firm Replay Technologies, which reportedly makes "free dimensional" 3-D video technology. The move comes as Intel seeks to cement itself in the burgeoning 3-D technology field and take sports fans along with it.
The announcement didn't mention how much the chip maker intends to pay, but Israeli media reports that the deal is valued at around $175 million.
The purchase is not one that came out of the blue, rather it extends and solidifies the relationship that the two companies share. Intel and Replay have been partnering up since 2013, with their most recent venture being last month's NBA All-Star Weekend, where fans got to experience the Slam Dunk contest from a full 360-degree view.
To provide that unique experience, freeD technology was used to create a 3-D video rendering of the entire court using 28 ultra-HD cameras positioned around the arena and connected to Intel servers. This allowed broadcasters to transmit the rendered video from various angles, as well as provide fans with a 360 view of the dunks.
The NBA isn't the only sporting league privy to this free dimensional technology. Others like the National Football League utilize the tech as networks and leagues continue to seek out new ways to engage fans and keep us interested in regular and major sporting events.
"Immersive sports requires the high-performance computing Intel is known for, and it's also data driven-fueling the continued build out of the cloud," Intel said. "For athletes, coaches, broadcasters and fans, the ability to capture, analyze and share data adds compelling new dimensions to the game."
Of course with Intel's RealSense 3D cameras, which for the past couple years have allowed users to do things like implement a green-screen effect to change the background behind them or use their heads to navigate through Google Map's Street View, this is hardly Google's first time in the 3-D tech field. Rather, the acquisition allows Intel to expand 3-D video technology into both a different industry and on a grander scale.
The $175 million acquisition of Replay Technologies, founded in 2011, may prove to be a hefty return for investors who poured $22.5 million into the firm before its purchase - if that figure is accurate, of course.
