Microsoft Signs License With ARM

G143 and several other readers let us know that Microsoft has signed a licensing deal with ARM. "Microsoft signed an agreement with the UK-based ARM, giving Microsoft access to some of the chip designer's intellectual property. The two companies have worked together since 1997, but Ian Drew, ARM's EVP of marketing, said this is the first time Microsoft has become a licensee of ARM's architecture, a move which will allow Microsoft to design their own microarchitecture. Other licensees include Qualcomm, Marvell, and Infineon. Neither company would reveal the cost of the license. Speculation about Microsoft's intentions includes wondering whether the company is taking aim at the iPad, or perhaps looking to produce a next-generation Xbox without the 360's heat problems."

Comments

Already done, thank you very much

[garyisabusyguy]

The ARM core is so widely licensed that it would be hard to find a modern handheld device that does NOT contain one.

"Many semiconductor or IC design firms hold ARM licenses; Analog Devices, Atmel, Broadcom, Cirrus Logic, Energy Micro, Faraday Technology, Freescale, Fujitsu, Intel (through its settlement with Digital Equipment Corporation), IBM, Infineon Technologies, Nintendo, NXP Semiconductors, OKI, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sharp, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and VLSI are some of the many companies who have licensed the ARM in one form or another" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture#ARM_licensees

IMHO, this is a non-story.

Re:Already done, thank you very much

[garyisabusyguy]

I had a couple of 'why' questions and found a possible answer.

This Intel forum:
http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/showthread.php?t=67843

Contains many complaints about the performance of the Intel compiler under WinCE (as well as Intel selling it all off to Marvel).

If you ask me, MS wants a chip that they can optimize for their OS. Seems liek this will lead it down a proprietary hole, not unlike Apple.

So, is that the real story, "MicroSoft, now more like Apple!"