ARM passes 10 billion processor milestone

ARM yesterday announced that its partner processor shipments had passed the 10 billion mark.

The embedded chip designer, which created its first embeddable RISC core - the ARM6 - in 1991, claims to be the largest microprocessor intellectual property (IP) company in the world.

The company's creations can be found in a wide array of devices, from cameras to gaming devices, iPods, satnav systems, smartphones and televisions to name a few.

"ARM partners have now shipped more than one processor for every single person on the planet" said Warren East, ARM's chief executive.

"Ten billion ARM processors in use mark an enormous milestone for ARM, but also demonstrate the growth in adoption of the ARM processor architecture by the vast majority of major electronics companies and across the broadest range of applications."

ARM is due credit for making a business model based on microprocessor technology and IP licensing work, according to Tom Halfhill, senior analyst at In-Stat.

"Although ARM does not actually make or sell microprocessor chips, there are now ten billion ARM microprocessors in the world - all implemented in silicon by ARM Partners," he said. "ARM was an early pioneer of this revolutionary business model, and it has given ARM a long reach in the digital world."

Tom Starnes, processor analyst at Objective Analysis concurs with Halfhill's support of ARM's achievement. "With each vendor using ARM processors to address its own focus markets, the number of ARM technology-based chips going out the door multiplies beyond what a single vendor could drive," he said.

"Added to the volume of mobile phones with ARM technology inside and untapped markets like microcontrollers just getting started, these numbers will continue to expand. At this rate, within a year we will find that every man, woman, and child on this planet will have the use of an average of two ARM processors - and a lot of cool electronic devices too."

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