A company renowned for supplying broadcasters such as CNN with large multi-touch wall screens has been bought out by Microsoft.

Perceptive Pixel Incorporated (PPI) announced yesterday that they have entered into a definitive agreement, under which Microsoft plans to acquire the multi-touch hardware and software maker.

Use of the multi-touch technology shot to fame during the 2008 US presidential elections, when broadcasters such as CNN used PPI’s software and hardware to track and analyse vote results.

Not only has PPI’s devices become widely used among top broadcasters across the globe, but the company’s technologies are also used in industries such as government, defence, energy exploration, engineering and higher education.

Microsoft’s move to acquire the touch screen technology company comes after it last month released its own tablet computer, called the ‘Surface’.

Analysts lauded Microsoft for adopting the strategy of controlling the production of both the software and hardware of the Surface – a similar move that has helped make Apple the most successful technology company in the world with products such as the iPad and iPhone.

But Microsoft says that it plans for its hardware partners to use the PPI multi-touch tech as well.

“PPI’s large touch screen displays, when combined with hardware from our OEMs, will become powerful Windows 8-based PCs and open new possibilities for productivity and collaboration,” said Kurt DelBene, president, Office Division of Microsoft.

PPI was founded in 2006 by Jeff Han, who expressed his thoughts on the deal.

“We are incredibly excited to be working together on our mutual passion to build technologies that enable people to collaborate and communicate,” said Han in a statement.

Terms of the deal, though, have not been disclosed. And according to Microsoft, the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.