Microsoft Locks ARM, Signs Licensing Agreement

File this one between "What the frack just happened?" and "Should Intel be concerned?," because those are the first two questions that come to mind regarding the new licensing agreement between Microsoft and ARM.

"Microsoft is an important member of the ARM ecosystem, and has been for many years," said Mike Muller, CTO, ARM. "With this architecture license, Microsoft will be at the forefront of applying and working with ARM technology in concert with a broad range of businesses addressing multiple application areas."

Microsoft was a bit more direct in its statement, saying, "With closer access to the ARM technology we will be able to enhance our research and development activities for ARM-based products."

Indeed, these two have been hanging and doing what friends do dating back to 1997, but they've just taken their relationship up a notch, even if neither one is fully really to detail just how entwined they've become. It will be interesting to see what Microsoft does with this new licensing freedom, and what it spells for Intel's x86 architecture in the mobile computing market. source