Fujitsu Semiconductor and ARM Ink License Agreement

ARM used to be an important company. Today, ARM is a critical company, and with mobility becoming ever more important, ARM's stake in the market is growing tremendously. Fujitsu Semiconductor is the latest company to hop onboard the train that ARM is powering, with the two signing a strategic partnership that enables a license agreement between the duo. The agreement covers ARM IP products, and through the strategic agreement, Fujitsu Semiconductor will offer platforms featuring the latest ARM technology including the Cortex-A15 processor, Mali graphics and CoreLink systems IP, in order to help accelerate its customers’ product development.

In truth, the two have been working together for over 10 years now, and recently, Fujitsu Semiconductor launched sales of its FM3 family of general-purpose microcomputers equipped with the Cortex-M3 processor.  The combination of compatible and scalable low-power processor IP, including the recently launched Cortex-A15 processor, graphics and fabric IP, will enable Fujitsu Semiconductor to continuously provide its customers with complete, full function SoC platforms featuring ARM technology, while significantly reducing time-to-market. It also ensures that ARM corners yet another piece of the market as their continued domination in mobile looks to strengthen.

It's clear that ARM-based systems aren't going anywhere, anytime soon. And now with yet another company onboard, hopefully we'll see even more competition as mobile devices become less niche and more passe.

Fujitsu Semiconductor and ARM Sign Comprehensive License Agreement

A strategic partnership using cutting-edge IP such as Cortex™-A15 and Mali graphics to expand global business

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom & YOKOHAMA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited and ARM today announced that they have signed a comprehensive license agreement for ARM IP products. Through this strategic agreement, Fujitsu Semiconductor will offer platforms featuring the latest ARM technology including the Cortex™-A15 processor, Mali™ graphics and CoreLink™ systems IP, in order to help accelerate its customers’ product development.

    “Fujitsu Semiconductor is working to enhance its product appeal and boost its IP lineup”

The two companies have been collaborating for more than a decade. More recently, Fujitsu Semiconductor launched sales of its FM3 family of general-purpose microcomputers equipped with the Cortex-M3 processor last November.

The agreement will enhance and deepen the companies’ partnership, and Fujitsu Semiconductor will provide its customers with cutting-edge ARM technology at an early stage as it develops new products in order to accelerate its customers’ product development.

The combination of compatible and scalable low-power processor IP, including the recently launched Cortex-A15 processor, graphics and fabric IP, will enable Fujitsu Semiconductor to continuously provide its customers with complete, full function SoC platforms featuring ARM technology, while significantly reducing time-to-market.

“Fujitsu Semiconductor is working to enhance its product appeal and boost its IP lineup,” said Corporate Senior Vice President Haruyoshi Yagi of Fujitsu Semiconductor. “One of the major ways in which we are doing this is with this comprehensive license agreement we have signed with ARM. This will allow our customers to select the ARM technology most suited for their application, and use a platform that combines it with other IP provided by us. These platforms will use our proven design and authentication technology, meaning we will be able to achieve high levels of quality and functionality, as well as a dramatic reduction in LSI development time.

“Fujitsu Semiconductor provides products that meet its customers’ needs in a timely manner over a wide range of applications. We are already moving ahead with the provision of IP to ASIC customers and the development of our ASSP, which are scheduled to be rolled out sequentially in the second half of 2011.

“In addition, we will share the Fujitsu Semiconductor product roadmap with ARM, and closely collaborate in the development of future ARM technologies, from the specification setting stage and up. As a strategic partner, we look forward to an even closer relationship with ARM.”

“In a constantly evolving marketplace, ARM is committed to empowering its Partners with the resources they need to not only remain competitive today, but to meet future technology challenges head-on,” said Tudor Brown, president, ARM. “The combination of ARM’s advanced processor, system and graphics technology and Fujitsu’s leadership in advanced SoC development forms a solid foundation for the development of pioneering semiconductor products.”