I must say (and thus I blog), this particular news article made "WTF" echo in my mind for some time.
Having learn't a few nuts and bolts about the semiconductor/hardware design industry, I have always appreciated the success of ARM, a behind the scenes company that exists in more devices that most people can imagine. ARM was or probably 'is still' one of the companies I'd like to work with, not because I love the company culture or anything (i dont even know what it is like to work at ARM), but for the reason that they have microprocessor IP (intellectual property) that, probably exists in 90% of the mobile phones people have used (The number is a wild guess)!
Now, away from my first love of hardware design and computer architecture, my latest affair with developing apps for iPhone has kind of "Apple'd" me. I love Apple, I love Apple products, and if Apple was a religion, I'd gracefully accept Steve Jobs as my god (OK, I am exaggerating a little too much now =).
Un-exaggerated: After developing a few apps, getting to know the iPhone OS and the way Apple has developed an eco-system for the developers and the consumers, I truly appreciate the Apple way of running the business. Having created a solid foundation since starting with the 1st generation iPods, the iTunes store, iPhones and then the iPads, Apple is one company that has a clear focus on its source of bread (or should I say, caviar?)
So whats the great WTF moment that I am blogging about? Just read this article "City aflame with takeover talk of ARM" that mentions about this rumor in the London business circles that Apple is interested in ARM.
I am not sure if acquiring PA-Semi wasn't enough (probably just enough to come out with A4 for iPad), but, taking over ARM would do wonders for Apple, while it may end up being really scary for the rest of the mobile (chip) manufacturers!
The latest chip by Qualcomm - SnapDragon is used in most of the latest high end smartphones, like the Google NexusOne, HTC Desire, Sony XPERIA and the HTC Incredible. SnapDragon, like many other processors (used in Droid etc) make up for the majority of all the high end microprocessors with ARM cores.
Its hard to imagine the mobile world without ARM. And hence, the WTF moment, when I imagine a leader in smartphone technology creeping into the microprocessor cores business. That'd make Apple happy if they sell 100 iPhones, and happier if someone else sells 100 phones that contain ARM cores, isn't it?
[All this, provided the rumor is true =]
