Apple to Make an Offer to Acquire ARM?

[d0b33]

The London Evening Standard reports that there have been rumors in London's financial district that Apple may be interested in acquiring ARM Holdings. ARM's shares shot up today based on the strong financial results from Apple yesterday. ARM provides the CPU designs for Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. ARM, however, also provides the chips for a broad range of mobile phones including Android and Palm devices.
"A deal would make a lot of sense for Apple," said one trader. "That way, they could stop ARM's technology from ending up in everyone else's computers and gadgets."

The Register reports that the takeover offer is rumored to be in the $8 billion range, which would consume almost 20% of Apple's $41.7 billion cash reserves. While a substantial portion of Apple's reserves, The Register accurately points out that this would "send shockwaves" throughout the industry, as Apple would be able to withhold such chips from its competitors.

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hmm I'm against this... this would be like Microsoft acquiring Intel.

 

[SuperTiger]

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

That would be a death blow to portable device competition.
I've had enough of Apple.

 

[Synaesthesia]

Well ARM will still have to honour it's existing licenses, even if Apple bought them.

 

[Rouxenator]

Bleh - don't need ARM anymore.
Nokia and Qualcomm have kissed and made up.

Will make for a nice mix though, Apple buying Acorn RISC Machine. That will be like a nuts and fruit salad or something, all that is missing is some berries. I think black ones will do.

 

[PeterCH]

Bleh - don't need ARM anymore.
Nokia and Qualcomm have kissed and made up.

Will make for a nice mix though, Apple buying Acorn RISC Machine. That will be like a nuts and fruit salad or something, all that is missing is some berries. I think black ones will do.

Qualcomm makes processors based on ARM licenses.
http://www.arm.com/markets/mobile/qualcomm-snapdragon-chipset.php

The only real competitor to ARM is Marvell with their XScale line.

I doubt the US SEC and EU EC, plus anti-trust bodies in other countries would let this through.

 

[phiber]

Qualcomm makes processors based on ARM licenses.
http://www.arm.com/markets/mobile/qualcomm-snapdragon-chipset.php

The only real competitor to ARM is Marvell with their XScale line.

I doubt the US SEC and EU EC, plus anti-trust bodies in other countries would let this through.

Errr what about VIA chips ? I rate you stick those in ipads they could be quite AWESOME...

 

[Synaesthesia]

VIA is still x86, which is very power-hungry compared to ARM in general.