ARM - Fabless business environment helps growth of ASIC design houses

The emergence of a fabless business environment has helped the growth of design houses who influence IP selection. ARM is engaging with these design houses with a new, innovative partnership model enabling a complete turnkey SoC service using ARM technology. Taiwanese SoC design solution provider Socle Technology Corporation is the first member of this program, says the company.

ARM has announced the ARM IP Portfolio Program, an innovative business and engagement model for companies offering custom ASIC design services. The initiative provides access to a comprehensive range of ARM IP and an opportunity for closer cooperation on new business opportunities.

Under the terms of the ARM IP Portfolio Program, selected companies can license a package of ARM technology (including processor, graphics, fabric & physical IP), which can be applied according to customer requirements. Immediate access accelerates time to market and provides the flexibility to adapt as requirements change from initial design through to manufacture. Compatibility between fully optimized ARM technologies also reduces risk and increases the likelihood of creating a competitive and compelling final solution.

Socle Technology has licensed the ARM11 processor family, the Mali-200 and Mali-55 cores for advanced 3D consumer graphics, CoreSight technology for advanced debug and trace capability and a full range of configurable AMBA PrimeCell peripherals (including interconnect, dynamic and static memory controllers, DMA controllers, and Level 2 Cache Controllers). Each item of IP also includes ARM support and maintenance as a condition of the license, says the company.

"At Socle, we are committed to working closely together with other industry leaders to deliver high-quality, low-Vicor
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Chartered, one of the world's leading dedicated semiconductor foundries, has invested in Socle as the major shareholder, with an eye to closer design collaboration and to provide a one-stop-shop ASIC solution in advanced process nodes.

Philip Lu, president, ARM Taiwan, said: "Socle Technology is well known as a leading provider of ARM technology-based embedded platform design solutions and our partnership with them is the first in our new, innovative business model which sees ARM engage in a strategic partnership with this important community. The ARM IP Portfolio Program will enable ARM, in collaboration with its Partners, to meet the requirements of the rapidly changing and fragmented supply chain with the widest possible application of optimized ARM technology."

Socle is a member of the ARM Approved Design Center program, a world-wide partnership of service companies certified to deliver expert design services around ARM IP. The ARM Approved Design Center program is part of the ARM Connected Community.

Tags: ARM, Processor, Embedded