AMD has licensed the graphics processor technology behind the Xbox 360 to mobile phone chipset supplier Qualcomm.
 
This agreement will bring AMD's patented Unified Shader Architecture, first introduced in the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming system, to Qualcomm's Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipset for integration on mobile handsets.

Last week, Qualcomm told EW.com that it expected the design of mobile phones to move closer to PC-like platforms within the next two years. This AMD licence indicates that high performance graphics will be a key part of that trend.

"The licensing of AMD's industry-leading OpenGL ES 2.0 IP for integration into our chipset solutions allows us to continue our leadership in providing the highest quality graphics application experience in the industry," said Steve Mollenkopf, senior v-p of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.

Qualcomm defines the next generation PC handset as sitting between a Blackbery type handset and a fully functional laptop.

“As the laptop first complimented and then replaced the desktop PC, I expect a convergence PC/mobile to eventually replace the laptop,” said Alex Katouzian, v-p of product management at Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, told EW.com.

The graphics core comes from AMD's acquisition of ATI Technologies in 2006.

See also: Electronics Weekly's Focus on Mobile Linux, a roundup of content related to the open source operating system shaped for mobile devices.