ARM Gets Serious About 3D Graphics
By Richard Wilson -- 6/26/2006
Electronics Weekly
Graphics acceleration seems to be the new focus at mobile phone processor specialist ARM, as the U.K.-based company has created a new graphics IP business to address what it now sees as an “important” market.
The move follows the acquisition of a Norwegian developer of graphics accelerator IP, Falanx Microsystems.
“The graphics market for mobile, automotive and home applications, is increasingly important to ARM,” said Mike Inglis, VP marketing and business development, ARM.
Behind this new excitement is what ARM sees as a bumper market for high performance graphics in mobiles, set-top boxes and games consoles. “The estimated total available market for embedded 3D hardware is set to grow from 135 million units in 2006 to more than 435 million units in 2010,” said Inglis.
ARM has a sales and market agreement with Imagination Technologies covering the PowerVR graphics accelerator core. But Imagination has announced that the agreement would not be extended to the next generation of 3D graphics accelerator.
So the key IP that Falanx brings to ARM is its Mali graphics processor that supports 3D graphics and video on mobile phones, portable media players, set-top boxes and handheld gaming devices.
According to Borgar Ljosland, CEO, Falanx Microsystems: “Mali graphics IP is complementary to ARM technology, and through this acquisition we will be able to deliver power-efficient OpenGL ES 2.0 solutions.”
Electronics Weekly is the London-based sister publication of Electronic News.
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