ARM targets 50% share of mobile PC market
UK firm's president sees huge expansion in mobile computers, TVs and cars, with Windows-based royalties from 2012
Published: 31 May, 2011
READ MORE: ARM | Processor | Netbook | Windows Phone
ARM expects to start generating royalties from Windows devices as early as next year, following Microsoft's decision to support the firm's processor architecture as well as Intel's x86 with its next major release, Windows 8.
In an interview with Bloomberg, ARM president Tudor Brown said the Microsoft decision would be significant in increasing the market share both for ARM-based designs and for Windows, boosting the former in segments such as cars and set-top boxes, and the latter in tablets. Currently, the architecture is only supported by Microsoft's mobile operating systems, Windows Mobile and WP7, which are restricted to handsets rather than tablets and other form factors. Intel-based slates running full-blown Windows have achieved limited market uptake.
"Where it gets potentially game changing is, what other opportunities does it open up for Microsoft?" Brown said, speaking at the start of the huge Computex gadget show in Taiwan. "This opens up a much bigger market." He added that the combination "makes a valid and viable operating system" for TVs and automotive electronics. Microsoft will show a demonstration of the Windows 8 user interface running on ARM-based processors in Taipei.
ARM already has over 90% penetration of the smartphone sector, but the Windows deal will help it gain share in the wider mobile devices market, including notebooks and netbooks. Brown expects the company's share of the mobile computer space to grow from 10% now to 15% by year end, and to 50% by 2015, on the back of Windows support as well as the expansion of Android into this sector.
"We're going to see tablets, and eventually laptops and servers using ARM-based operating systems, which should open significant opportunities," Jerome Ramel, an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, told Bloomberg. "For servers and laptops, power consumption is becoming crucial, and ARM is all about power consumption."
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