Microsoft becomes official ARM licensee, could an MS microprocessor be next?
By Tim Stevens 
posted July 23rd 2010 6:53AM
posted July 23rd 2010 6:53AM
ARM processors are so hot right now, especially in the mobile space, where they power many of the greatest smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices coming down the turnpike. Microsoft is apparently looking to merge in on that action, becoming an official ARM licensee. It's unclear exactly what MS will be doing with its new found technical rights, but General Manager KD Hallman said "With closer access to the ARM technology we will be able to enhance our research and development activities for ARM-based products." This likely means Microsoft will be better optimizing Windows Embedded and Windows Phone for the processor architecture, but also opens the door for Ballmer & Co. to create their own magical microprocessor and, ultimately, use it to rule the world with an iron fist. Terms of the agreement were not given, but hopefully nobody in Redmond had to lose any appendages to seal the deal. Microsoft Licenses ARM Architecture
ARM and Microsoft Continue Relationship With Closer Access to ARM IP
CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ARM and Microsoft Corp. today announced that they have signed a new licensing agreement for the ARM® architecture. The agreement extends the collaborative relationship between the two companies. Since 1997 Microsoft and ARM have worked together on software and devices across the embedded, consumer and mobile spaces, enabling many companies to deliver user experiences on a broad portfolio of ARM-based products.
"With closer access to the ARM technology we will be able to enhance our research and development activities for ARM-based products."
"Microsoft is an important member of the ARM ecosystem, and has been for many years," said Mike Muller, CTO ARM. "With this architecture license, Microsoft will be at the forefront of applying and working with ARM technology in concert with a broad range of businesses addressing multiple application areas."
"ARM is an important partner for Microsoft and we deliver multiple operating systems on the company's architecture, most notably Windows Embedded and Windows Phone," said KD Hallman, general manager, Microsoft. "With closer access to the ARM technology we will be able to enhance our research and development activities for ARM-based products."
ARM licenses processor IP under a flexible licensing model, enabling highly integrated solutions for a variety of applications ranging from mobile devices to home electronics and industrial products. ARM customers can license the ARM architecture or specific processor implementations.
Details of the agreement will remain confidential.
@CrackRocks
You pathetic?
M$ can't win em by innovation then buy em ..well. m$$ haven't released anything past 20 still riding on windoze 95
@Makali
Well, this is probably the most ignorant thing I've read this morning.
@Brother Unit No 4 It really is comedy gold.
Most likely this is going in their new Zune type tablet that they
are working on. I would think sometime in Jan. or Feb ... 2011
MS is going to release a 8" Zune tablet just before Apple does
a iPad refresh and their 7" version of the iPad ...
MS have never been in the chip biz, so I don't think that's what they're going after.
Im pretty excited about the future of WP7.
After failing with everything they go on to the next thing ...
@b0rndead
Failing in what? The only failure they've had recently was the Kin. Windows 7 is a huge success, MSE is an incredible program, Zune HD has great build quality and hardware, not to mention has inspired the Windows Phone 7.
And although there's absolutely no way to tell if Windows Phone 7 will succeed, the fact they're practically bribing developers to make apps for launch day, are handing out free dev phones left and right and are really doing everything in their power to make it successful, you can hardly say Microsoft fails at everything you biased, uneducated troll.
So do we still call them WinTel or are they now ARMDows?
Given their history of copying Apple it is pretty easy to figure out why they want the ARM processor. They are going to come up with their own versions of iPad and iPhone.
@iPhone 4
You do know Apple didn't do anything to design the ARM chips in their respective devices, right? It was all Samsung.
@iPhone 4
You seem to be suffering some kind of connection problem, Windows Phone 7 was launched ages ago.
And yes Samsung designed the A4 NOT Apple.
@fourthletter Microsoft will come out with their own phone and tablet hardware devices like they did with Zune.
I was under the impression that Apple's own P.A. Semi, the semi-conductor company they bought, created the A4 chip. So Apple designed it and Samsung manufactured it.
@iPhone 4
Yes, Apple was the first company to design their own chip.
This is to optimize Windows 8 for it. They know a lot of ARM tablets are coming and they want to have Windows on them, but they can't because Windows 7 only works on Atom, and Atom is not exactly popular in mobile markets. They need to make next Windows work on ARM.
most likely to power some of their new phones
Let me be the first person to call the Microsoft Google TV/Apple TV rival.
Good legal defensive move by Microsoft to prevent Apple from buying ARM!
@brutek
Apple used to hold a lot more ARM stock than they do now... you know, back when they co-founded ARM in it's modern form
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Holdings
Yaaaaaawn!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing here. MS is a bloated ass company making the bulk its money from licenses. Besides, what ever pressure MS is felling to get its stock up translates into pressure on you geeks to buy their shit.
Ball is in your court.
I foresee a name change to "Microhard"