In a recent SEC filing, Florida-based security company AuthenTec revealed that it has been acquired by Apple Inc. The 8-K "Report of unscheduled material events or corporate event" said the two companies had entered into an agreement worth $356 million, which was finalized last Thursday.

What makes the acquisition noteworthy for mobile payments is that AuthenTec has a considerable patent portfolio. It also provides network and mobile security — most notably identity management services using fingerprint sensors on computers and mobile devices. The company's technology is already being used by handset manufacturers such as LG and Samsung, and its technology has been used to secure NFC payments.

It's possible that Apple acquired AuthenTec to provide additional security for its devices and may be using the company's technology to secure mobile payment functionality. 

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