It's unusual for Apple Inc. [AAPL] to make acquisitions and the company rarely discusses the deals it does. But the company has confirmed to Forbes an agreement to buy the boutique microprocessor company PA Semi. Apple has yet to officially announce the deal or to comment on the price, but Forbes quotes sources close to the deal saying Apple paid $278 million. An Apple spokesperson did not immediately return a call for comment.

The price tag, however, seems to be the least of it. By buying PA Semi, a company known for sophisticated and low-priced chips, Apple could be readying to take key products like the iPhone and the iPod in a new direction, Forbes notes. And, by bringing its chip design in house, it is effectively building a fortress to prevent copycat designs from rival companies.

PA Semi was founded in 2003 and has received venture capital from Bessemer Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners and Venrock Associates,-- Andrea Orr

See April 23 story Apple deal from Forbes.com

For more, see tuaw.com and engadget