TSMC does deal for ARM technology

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) from ARM will be used by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) after a deal between the two companies.

Manufacturing down to 20nm scale and system-on-a-chip development are all part and parcel of what the two companies are calling a long term agreement that will see TSMC employ ARM IP as well as have access to the Cortex processors.

Mike Inglis, EVP and general manager of ARM's processor division said, "I am pleased that ARM and TSMC will be working together to enable ARM processor based SoCs leveraging both companies' advanced technologies."

The two companies will also collaborate on creating technology for TSMC to use for benchmarking in terms of power, performance and area. TSMC will have access to the Cortex processor family but memory chips are another goal for the collaboration, as are products for the wireless, portable computing, tablet PCs and high performance computing markets.

ARM has also done a deal with Global Foundries, the former manufacturing wing of AMD. In February the two companies announced a joint effort for the production of 28nm scale processors and SoC, based on the ARM Cortex A9 processor. The work could lead to a wide range of products, including those with wireless capabilities. µ