ARM joins with IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics in a system-on-chip device alliance which will accelerate the move to next generation 32nm and 28nm semiconductor process technology.
The announcement comes on the day that foundry TSMC moved ahead of IBM with news of first prototypes chips on a 28nm process before the end of the year.
The IBM-led moved will be based on its high-k metal-gate (HKMG) technology.
Significantly it is ARM which will develop and license the processor peripherals intellectual property (IP) including logic, memory and interface products for the 32nm and 28nm design platform for SoCs, which has been dubbed the Common Platform.
ARM said it will also develop Cortex processor IP for the 32nm and 28nm processes.
According to Mike Cadigan, general manager for semiconductors at IBM: “Today's announcement with ARM extends that strategy to the next level, from IBM research through Common Platform manufacturing to the leading consumer application architecture.”
“Through this early engagement, we are creating the foundation for designing power efficient ARM SoCs for customers of the Common Platform," said Warren East, CEO, ARM.
IBM has been working Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics in a chip manufacturing collaboration featuring bulk CMOS 32nm, 45nm, 65nm and 90nm process technologies.