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Apple to buy ARM for $8 billion?

Apple to buy ARM for $8 billion?

Posted: 21 Apr 2010, 23:10, by Alan F.

Categories: Apple Apple Unofficial Unofficial Bookmark

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This article contains unofficial information.

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In a move that would change the face of mobile technology as it currently stands, Apple is rumored to be in talks to purchase Cambridge, U.K. based chip manufacturer ARM for $8 billion U.S. The report is coming from U.K. newspaper the London Evening Standard. ARM supplies chips for Apple's iPhone, iPod and the new A4 chips in its iPad. Other firms that rely on ARM are Nokia, BlackBerry, and Microsoft. Android phones made by Motorola and HTC also use ARM chips. In fact, most tech products smaller than a netbook rely on the company to supply them for products like routers, the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. While $8 billion is not exactly pocket change for most companies, for Apple it is just one-fifth of the $40 billion in cash and short term investments the company lists on its latest balance sheet. For Steve Jobs and crew, the trickiest part of the deal might be obtaining the necessary government clearances that could block the completion of an acquisition. Apple and Jobs might have burned some important bridges lately. Ironically, Apple was one of the companies that formed ARM back in November 1990 as a joint venture between the Cupertino firm, Acorn Computers and VLSI Technologies. The initials stand for Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. In the next 24 hours, you can expect to hear opposition to the deal from other computer companies worrying that they will lose a steady supply of important parts for products that compete with Apple. However, the latter firm is ARM's largest customer and it does make sense for Apple to try to bring chip production in-house. One trader says that a deal would make sense for Apple because, "that way, they could stop ARM's technology from ending up in everyone else's computers and gadgets."

source: LondonEveningStandard

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1. ajac09 posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:46 0 0

say no uk please say no!

2. cj100570 posted on 21 Apr 2010, 23:36 0 0

If this is indeed true it's DOA. It'll never pass muster in the EU and I'm sure it'll never make it here in the US either.

21. PapaJay224 posted on 23 Apr 2010, 03:05 0 0

Isn't it funny Apple might buy ARM.... and it costs and Arm to buy anything Apple....weird...looks like ill be investing in LEG.

3. ilia1986 posted on 21 Apr 2010, 23:59 0 0

YES!! This is awesome.. Apple will become even stronger then before! :D

15. iHateCrapple posted on 22 Apr 2010, 15:01 0 0

I wouldn't count on this happening, they will run into too much opposition.

4. modernkoro posted on 22 Apr 2010, 04:26 0 0

EVERY PHONE MANUFACTURER USES ARM CPU. IF EVIL APPLE ACQUIRED ARM, APPLE ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT ALLOW COMPETITORS TO USE ITS CPU. AND SIMPLY THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MOBILE PHONE INDUSTRY. THE TECHNOLOGY WILL GROW VERY SLOWLY. COMPETITION IS NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS, BUT IT IS GOOD FOR US, "CONSUMERS".

12. JackFace posted on 22 Apr 2010, 12:57 0 0

Restrictions restrictions restrictions... need I go on?

22. PapaJay224 posted on 23 Apr 2010, 03:11 0 0

I'm thinking Steve Jobs was talking and surfing at the same time trying to figure out how to multitasking and almost accidently bought a company. Good thing for spotty AT&T Coverage his call dropped before he could complete the transaction.

5. mcmkone posted on 22 Apr 2010, 04:34 0 0

These Apple fan boys have no idea what a move like this would do to the industry... stop looking at the short term however look at the long term effect it could have on the industry, however it could actually back fire on apple as all the main companies which use ARM for chips have deep pockets and might form a new chip company of their own that will completely blow ARM away... the old saying goes you can buy a company but that doesn't mean you've bought the people, with out people to drive your company forwards what do you have???

6. liquidmonkey (unregistered) posted on 22 Apr 2010, 05:42 0 0

although competition is good this would be a downright monopoly and would NEVER be allowed by any sane over sight committee. nice try cr@pple. interesting how this comes at a time when HTC has caught up and beaten the $hitPhone.

7. Nickmfnjackson posted on 22 Apr 2010, 08:24 0 0

aww come on apple... Buy the company so you can release 2 devices every 3 years as opposed to the 30+ that come from all the other collective manufactures? You guys really dont like anyone else to have good things, huh?

8. Mateo8326 posted on 22 Apr 2010, 08:43 0 0

They gonna take the $8 billion you'd be a fool not to....apple could buy the rights to all apple trees in the world if they wanted to lol

16. iHateCrapple posted on 22 Apr 2010, 15:03 0 0

It's not just about money...the gov won't allow this to happen.

24. Mateo8326 posted on 24 Apr 2010, 07:01 0 0

Sure the gov will if they wouldn't this whole article would be null and void

25. iHateCrapple posted on 24 Apr 2010, 12:40 0 0

How do you figure? Especially when it says " This article contains unofficial information".

9. nak1017 posted on 22 Apr 2010, 09:19 0 0

If this goes through, I predict a big change in Intel's road map...

10. remixfa posted on 22 Apr 2010, 11:11 0 0

This would be rediculous if they allowed apple to do so. It would be in direct violation of monopoly laws. Of course, with obama as president, the laws dont seem to matter much, so it will probably happen. Maybe apple will make a million dollar illegal donation to obama the way goldman sachs did. of course, this would depend on which % of chips ARM supplies the world of cellphones and gadgets with. There is also the Snapdragon and other processors out there. ARM does more middle of the road stuff... so this move could just force companies to use more high end snapdragons (which are going to 1.5gh this year not like the .6gh ARM the iphone runs on) and whatever else comes out, and totally backfire on Apple.. which id die laughing :)