Microsoft has signed a new architecture licence deal with ARM, providing the Redmond giant with greater access to the processor designer's intellectual property.
The agreement means Microsoft will have access to both ARM's processor blueprints and the instruction set the chips use.
Microsoft and ARM have been working together since 1997 and the latter's architecture is used in Windows Phone and Windows Embedded, along with other operating systems.
Not many details were forthcoming on what will be done with the extra access to the technology, but KD Hallman, general manager for Microsoft, said the agreement will help the firm improve "research and development activities for ARM-based products".
"ARM is an important partner for Microsoft," Hallman added.
No details on the agreement were released, including on how long the deal will last or will cost. ARM has previously handed similar architecture licences to Qualcomm, Marvell and Infineon.
"It's a fairly in-depth license that we have granted them. It is really about the recipe for the ARM architecture," Ian Drew, executive vice president of ARM, told IT PRO.
"We're a very open licensing company we don't put stipulations on what people can go use, so it is really up to Microsoft how they use it," Drew said.
Microsoft and ARM "have a great ongoing working relationship", he added, and the processor developer expects the relationship to continue and grow in the future.
Earlier this year, there were rumours of Apple potentially acquiring ARM, but no more has come of the talk.
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
-
Arm appoints new CFO as it gears up for IPONews The company has hired Jason Child, former Splunk CFO, who has experience in helping companies go public
-
Truss seeks last-ditch SoftBank meeting over Arm IPONews Gov said to want a dual New York-London listing, at the very least
-
FTC sues to block Nvidia's Arm acquisitionNews Deal for the UK-based chipmaker is now subject to an administrative trial in August 2022
-
Should we stop selling the crown jewels of tech?In-depth After a string of high-profile sales, the tech world is starting to ask if it's time to protect the UK’s technology assets
-
Is Nvidia’s takeover of Arm a threat to the UK tech industry?In-depth The spectre of a US chipmaker buying one of Britain's tech crown jewels is causing discontent
-
ARM hires 1,000 staff after SoftBank buy-outNews Hiring spree is the first step in SoftBank's pledge to double UK staff
-
ARM shareholders approve SoftBank takeover
News The £24.3bn takeover will complete on 5 September
-
ARM CEO Warren East set to retire after 12 years on topNews Under his leadership ARM became a global force.
