IP vendor ARM is stepping up its cooperation with Taiwan IC design service providers, including Global Unichip, Socle Technology and Faraday Technology, in order to get better access to their foundry partners – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), respectively – as a means to counter Intel's push for Atom-core SoC designs with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), according to market sources.
Global Unichip has introduced a 65nm low-power platform with the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) technology enabling SoC and networking chip customers to shorten their products' time-to-market.
Socle entered the mobile Internet device (MID) market soon after it obtained the 1GHz ARM11 hard core. The company also provides complete design solutions for ARM Mali-200 and Mali-55 3D graphic chips, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB 2.0 OTG IP solutions.
Both Global Unichip and Socle have introduced 65nm design solutions, indicating more fierce competition on the 65nm platform and ARM's ambition in cutting into the MID market.
Article translated by Meiling Chen
