ARM Holdings

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ARM Holdings plc
Type Public limited company
Traded as LSE: ARM NASDAQ: ARMH
Industry Semiconductors
Founded 1990 (Cambridge)
Founder(s) Robin Saxby, Jamie Urquhart, Mike Muller, Tudor Brown, Lee Smith, John Biggs, Harry Oldham, Dave Howard, Pete Harrod, Harry Meekings, Al Thomas, Andy Merritt, David Seal[1]
Headquarters Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Key people John Buchanan (Chairman)
Warren East (CEO)
Products Microprocessors,
Revenue £576.9 million (2012)[2]
Operating income £208.1 million (2012)[2]
Net income £160.7 million (2012)[2]
Employees circa 2,000 (2012)[3]
Website arm.com
The entrance to ARM1, one of the buildings on ARM's campus in Cambridge, England (52°10′54″N 0°10′42″E / 52.18177°N 0.17824°E / 52.18177; 0.17824)
Stitched panorama of building ARM I by architects Barber – Casanovas – Ruffles at Peterhouse Technology Park, Cambridge.[4]

ARM Holdings plc is a British multinational semiconductor and software design company with its head office in Cambridge, England. Its largest business is in processors, although it also designs software development tools under the RealView and Keil brands, systems and platforms, system-on-a-chip infrastructure and software. It is considered to be market dominant in the field of mobile phone chips based on the ARM architecture and is arguably the best-known of the 'Silicon Fen' companies.[5]

The company was founded as Advanced RISC Machines, ARM, a joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) and VLSI Technology. The new company intended to further the development of the Acorn RISC Machine's RISC chip, which was originally used in the Acorn Archimedes and had been selected by Apple for their Newton project. The design was flexible and is now the processing core for many custom application-specific integrated circuits.

ARM Holdings has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has a secondary listing on NASDAQ.

Contents

Name [edit]

The acronym ARM, first used in 1983, originally stood for "Acorn RISC Machine." However, when the company was incorporated in 1990, the acronym was changed to stand for "Advanced RISC Machines" in the company name "Advanced RISC Machines Ltd." Then, at the time of the IPO in 1998, the company name was changed to "ARM Holdings".[6]

History [edit]

The Company was founded in November 1990 as Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and structured as a joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) and VLSI Technology.[7][8][9] Its first profitable year was 1993. The Company's Silicon Valley and Tokyo offices were opened in 1994. In 1997, ARM Holdings invested in Palmchip Corporation to provide a system on chip platforms and to enter into the disk drive market.[10] In 1998 the Company changed its name from Advanced RISC Machines Ltd to ARM Ltd.[11] The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ in 1998.[12] Apple's shareholding had fallen to 14.8% by February 1999.[13]

In 1999, ARM acquired Micrologic Solutions, a software consulting company based in Cambridge.[14] Further expansion followed in 2000 when ARM acquired Allant Software, a developer of debugging software;[15] Infinite Designs, a design company based in Sheffield[16] and EuroMIPS a smart card design house in Sophia Antipolis, France.[17] In 2001, ARM acquired the engineering team of Noral Micrologics, a debug hardware and software company based in Blackburn, UK.[18] The Company's China office was opened in 2002. In 2003, ARM acquired Adelante Technologies of Belgium, creating its OptimoDE data engines business, a form of lightweight DSP engine.[19]

In 2004, ARM acquired Axys Design Automation, a developer of ESL design tools;[20] and Artisan Components, a designer of Physical IP (standard cell libraries, Memory Compilers, PHYs etc.), the building blocks of integrated circuits.[21] Further acquisitions followed in 2005 when ARM acquired KEIL Software, a leading developer of software development tools for the microcontroller market, including 8051 and C16x platforms.[22] ARM also acquired the engineering team of PowerEscape. In 2006, ARM acquired Falanx (now called ARM Norway), a developer of 3D graphics accelerators,[23] and SOISIC, who specialise in developing silicon-on-insulator physical IP.[24] In 2010, ARM joined with IBM, Texas Instruments, Samsung, ST-Ericsson and Freescale Semiconductor in forming a Not For Profit Open Source engineering company, Linaro.[25] In 2011, ARM bought Obsidian Software Inc., a privately held company that creates processor verification products.[26] In November 2011, ARM acquired Prolific, a developer of automated layout optimisation software tools, and the Prolific team will join the ARM physical IP team.[27]

Operations [edit]

Business model [edit]

Unlike other microprocessor corporations such as AMD, Intel, Freescale (formerly Motorola) and Renesas (formerly Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric),[28] ARM only licenses its technology as intellectual property (IP), rather than manufacturing its own CPUs. Thus, there are a few dozen companies making processors based on ARM's designs. Intel, Samsung,[29] Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Atmel, Freescale, Nvidia, Qualcomm, STMicroelectronics and Renesas have all licensed ARM technology. In the fourth quarter of 2010, 1.8 billion chips based on an ARM design were manufactured.[30]

ARM Holdings' goal is by 2015 to have ARM-based processors in more than half of all tablets, mini-notebooks and other mobile PCs sold.[31]

Facilities [edit]

The company has offices and design centres across the world, including San Jose, California, Austin, Texas, and Olympia, Washington in the United States; Trondheim in Norway; Lund in Sweden; Sophia Antipolis in France; Munich in Germany; Yokohama in Japan; China, Taiwan, India, and Slovenia.[32]

An ARM processor in a Hewlett-Packard PSC-1315 printer.

Technology [edit]

A characteristic feature of ARM processors is their low electric power consumption, which makes them particularly suitable for use in portable devices.[33] In fact, almost all modern mobile phones and personal digital assistants contain ARM CPUs, making them the most widely used 32-bit microprocessor family in the world. Today ARMs account for over 75% of all 32-bit embedded CPUs.[34]

ARM processors are used as the main CPU for most mobile phones, including those manufactured by Apple, HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung;[35] many PDAs and handhelds, like the Apple iPod and iPad,[36][37] Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, Game Park GP32 and GamePark Holdings GP2X; as well as many other applications, including GPS navigation devices, digital cameras, digital televisions, network devices and storage.[38] The WLAN processor of Sony's PlayStation Portable is an ARM9.[39]

Sales and market share [edit]

ARM-based products' market share in 2010: over 95% in smartphone market; 10% in mobile computers; 35% in digital TVs and set-top boxes; however, ARM did not have any market share in servers and desktop PCs.[40]

With Microsoft's new ARM-based Windows 8 OS coming in 2012, market research firm IHS predicted that in 2015 23% of all the PCs in the world will use ARM processors.[41]

In May 2012, Dell announced the Copper platform, a server based on Marvell’s ARM powered devices.[42] In October 2012, ARM announced the first set of early licensees of the 64-bit-capable Cortex-A57 processor.[43]

Partnerships [edit]

Microsoft [edit]

In 2011, Microsoft demonstrated Internet Explorer 10 at the MIX11 show in Las Vegas. For around 30 seconds of the 90-minute talk, they mentioned that some of the demos were running on an ARM computer.[44] At 2011 CES, Microsoft revealed that Windows 8 operating system will run on ARM architecture platforms.[45] During Microsoft's presentation of Windows 8, a handful of the company's hardware partners showed off tablets and notebooks running the OS, including ARM Holdings instead of Intel and AMD.[46]

University of Michigan [edit]

In 2011, ARM renewed a five-year, $5 million research partnership with University of Michigan, which extended their existing research partnership to 2015. This partnership will focus on ultra-low energy and sustainable computing.[47][48]

Senior management [edit]

Warren East was appointed Chief Executive Officer of ARM Holdings in October 2001. In the 2011 financial year, East received a total compensation of £1,187,500 from ARM, comprising a salary of £475,000 and a bonus of £712,500.[49][50] East said in March 2013 that he would retire from ARM in May, with president Simon Segars taking over as CEO.[51]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Saxby, Robin (23 November 2006). "Chips With Everything" (PDF). Retrieved 27 May 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c "Preliminary Results 2012". ARM Holdings. Retrieved 16 March 2013. 
  3. ^ "Company profile". ARM Holdings. Retrieved 17 March 2012. 
  4. ^ ARM I, Arm II, Peterhouse Technology Park
  5. ^ "ARM CPU Core Dominates Mobile Market – Nikkei Electronics Asia – Tech-On!". Techon.nikkeibp.co.jp. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  6. ^ "ARM Holdings, plc, Company Description – NASDAQ.com". Quotes.nasdaq.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  7. ^ ARM milestones, ARM company website. Retrieved 5 February 2008
  8. ^ Andrews, Jason (2005). "3 SoC Verification Topics for the ARM Architecture". Co-verification of hardware and software for ARM SoC design. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. p. 69. ISBN 0-7506-7730-9. "ARM started as a branch of Acorn Computer in Cambridge, England, with the formation of a joint venture between Acorn, Apple and VLSI Technology. A team of twelve employees produced the design of the first ARM microprocessor between 1983 and 1985." 
  9. ^ Weber, Jonathan (28 November 1990). "Apple to Join Acorn, VLSI in Chip-Making Venture". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles). Retrieved 6 February 2012. "Apple has invested about $3 million (roughly 1.5 million pounds) for a 30% interest in the company, dubbed Advanced Risc Machines Ltd. (ARM) [...]" 
  10. ^ Introduces Fully-Integrated, Low-Power Controller Core for OEM Mass Storage Design; New ARM-based, hard disk controller architecture reduces time-to-market and system costs[dead link]
  11. ^ "Advanced RISC Machines Ltd is now ARM Ltd". Findarticles.com. 19 October 1998. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  12. ^ "ARM wins billion dollar valuation in IPO". Findarticles.com. 20 April 1998. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  13. ^ Davis, Jim (3 February 1999). "Short Take: Apple sells ARM shares". CNET. Retrieved 6 February 2012. "Apple still holds 14.8 percent of ARM [...]" 
  14. ^ "ARM buys Micrologic for instant development team". Cbronline.com. 31 October 1999. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  15. ^ "ARM acquires Allant Software". Design-reuse.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  16. ^ "ARM in race for staff in Sheffield". Findarticles.com. 17 April 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  17. ^ "Samsung and Incard Launch World's First 32-BitSmart Card for High-Volume SIM Applications". Allbusiness.com. 24 October 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  18. ^ "ARM buys Noral debug design team". Electronicsweekly.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  19. ^ "ARM buys Adelante's design office, leaves core". Eetimes.eu. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  20. ^ "ARM Holdings agrees to buy Aachen EDA company". Commsdesign.com. 16 August 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  21. ^ Coates, Ron. "ARM to buy designer of systems on a chip". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  22. ^ "ARM Purchases Keil Software". Microcontroller.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  23. ^ Smith, Tony (23 June 2006). "ARM buys Falanx". Reghardware.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  24. ^ "ARM acquires SOISIC". Channel-e.biz. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  25. ^ IBM, Freescale, Samsung Form Linaro to Aid in Developing ARM-compatible Software Daily Tech, 5 June 2010
  26. ^ Peter Clarke, EE Times. "ARM buys processor verification firm Obsidian." 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  27. ^ Anton Shilov, XbitLabs. "ARM Acquires Developer of Automated Chip Layout Tools." 1 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  28. ^ Processor Licensees, ARM company website. Retrieved 5 February 2008
  29. ^ Keir Thomas, PCWorld. "ARM Servers Are Coming, But Won't Be Cheap." 14 March 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  30. ^ "Q4 revenue came from the sale of 1.8 billion ARM-processor based chips", ARM press release, 1 February 2011
  31. ^ Martyn Williams, IDG News. "ARM Expects Half of Mobile PC Market by 2015." 29 May 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  32. ^ ARM offices, ARM company website. Retrieved 5 February 2008
  33. ^ ARM Processor Overview, ARM company website. Retrieved 5 February 2008
  34. ^ Product Backgrounder[dead link]
  35. ^ "ARM is the market-leading architecture in mobile devices worldwide, with 80% of all handsets containing at least one ARM core.", Symbian website. Retrieved 5 February 2008
  36. ^ "What processor does the iPod, iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod touch, and iPod shuffle use?". Everymac.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  37. ^ iPhone powered by Samsung, not Intel?, engadget, 11 January 2007
  38. ^ "ARM powered products". ARM Holdings. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  39. ^ "Sony PlayStation Portable – PSP". ARM Holdings. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
  40. ^ Timothy Prickett Morgan, The Register. "ARM Holdings eager for PC and server expansion Record 2010, looking for Intel killer 2020." 1 February 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  41. ^ Ashok Bindra, TMCnet. "ARM, Windows 8 to Power Future Notebooks, says IHS." 28 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  42. ^ Dell, "Copper enables the ARM server ecosystem." Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  43. ^ ARM, "ARM Launches Cortex-A50 Series, the World’s Most Energy-Efficient 64-bit Processors." Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  44. ^ Keir Thomas, PCWorld. "Microsoft Demos IE10 on ARM, and It Looks Good." 14 April 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  45. ^ Tony Bradley, PCWorld. "Windows 8 on ARM Expands Microsoft's Mobile Horizons." 6 January 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  46. ^ Keir Thomas, PCWorld. "Windows 8 and the ARM Revolution: The Pros and Cons." 2 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  47. ^ Peter Clarke, EE Times. "ARM extends Michigan research deal." 31 August 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  48. ^ Chris Edwards, Electronics Weekly. "ARM extends Michigan low-power work." 31 August 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  49. ^ "Warren East: Executive Profile & Biography". BusinessWeek. Bloomberg. Retrieved 21 March 2012. 
  50. ^ "Warren East profile". Forbes. Retrieved 23 August 2009. 
  51. ^ "ARM CEO Warren East steps down". PC Pro. Retrieved 19 March 2013. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: ARM Limited


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