Why is Microsoft not interested? Or they are and it has not been reported?
ARM should fit well with them, plus it would give them a way to enter the mobile space again, this time by owning the IP and not making hardware.
Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
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Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#72I suspect there is a bit of a Catch-22 with any sale.
Purchase by any ARM customer (including Nvidia) potentially reduces the value as it will alienate other ARM customers who compete with the buyer (e.g. AMD holds ARM licenses so how would it feel about using Nvidia controlled technology). Yet who else will be able to generate synergies from the acquistion?
Of course Nvidia may feel that the synergies are big enough to offset the loss of business plus its share price gives it a fantastic acquisition currency.
Plus, the line when Softbank bought ARM was that ARM as a listed company was constrained by lack of cashflow, so a deep pocketed owner would be able to take up opportunities not available to ARM as as stand-alone company.
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#73Earlier quoted context omitted.
There has been no meaningful antitrust action in over a decade. I wouldn't bank on it.
A little over a decade ago, a lot of stuff went wrong because a bunch of economically dominant corporations figured they were too big for governments to allow them to fail. And it looks like big tech is developing much the same rich-and-out-of-touch reputation that bankers and stock traders used to have. I don’t know who, but I am assuming one of the FAANGs will be forcibly broken up in the next decade.
How'd that work out for the bankers and stock traders?
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#74I would never want to buy ARM if I were Apple. Here's why. Apple can design AND manufacture chips based on ARM architecture, essentially without any interference from ARM the company. Just pay a (relatively small) license fee and you're all set. The article says it well: > Arm’s licensing operation would fit poorly with Apple’s hardware-focused business model. > There may also be regulatory concerns about Apple ownin…
True, but losing influence on the core component you've pivoted your whole company around, would also be pretty disastrous. Or in memespeak: scenes when nVidia controls Apple's CPU roadmap.
Or Nvidia raises the license fees to crazy levels. Maybe the contract terms prevent that? If not that would cause some big problems for a few years as companies scramble to find alternatives or design in house.
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#75I'd believe IBM before Nvidia or Apple. IBM has chip engineering knowledge and IP licensing know how, but doesn't have to worry about a conflict with the licensees.
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am a huge RISC-V fan, like Cathy Bates level, but there is so much that ARM can do over the next 5,10,15 years but it looks like they are incapable of the required transformations. Everything that is good about RISC-V is already at ARM's disposal. Currently it looks like SiFive was borne out of a solution for the organizational issues that plague innovator's dilemma companies. I am envious of SiFive's position righ…
What is an IR?
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
True, but losing influence on the core component you've pivoted your whole company around, would also be pretty disastrous. Or in memespeak: scenes when nVidia controls Apple's CPU roadmap.
Or Nvidia raises the license fees to crazy levels. Maybe the contract terms prevent that? If not that would cause some big problems for a few years as companies scramble to find alternatives or design in house.
I would imagine Apple had themselves protected before the SoftBank acquisition.
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#78How relevant is ARM in the long run if Apple is pursuing its own design / CPU architecture ("Apple Silicon") and the Chinese lead by Huawei are forced by US sanctions also to create their own design / architecture?
The number of units Apple sells with ARM designs inside (all devices - desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, and more) are dwarfed in comparison to the ARM ecosystem at large. ARM isn't dependent on Apple for anything really. Even your toaster and fridge probably have ARM licensed designs in them. Your Smartwatch certainly does, and the billions of non-Apple smartphones too. > Chinese lead by Huawei are forced by US sa…
> Pretty sure they were heading that way even without US sanctions. Steal the IP, then make a competing product while paying zero licensing fees to ARM.
Huawei would be in a better long-term position if they chose RISC-V versus IP theft.
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
True, but losing influence on the core component you've pivoted your whole company around, would also be pretty disastrous. Or in memespeak: scenes when nVidia controls Apple's CPU roadmap.
Nothing stops Apple from giving no craps about ARM CPU roadmaps though. They could just license what they need and build a completely custom everything on top without needing it to be a standard implementation in anyway. So long as whoever is buying ARM is legally mandated to provide licenses - Apple doesn't have to rely on them actually pushing out new CPUs/modules/features. Historically I think they have just licen…
My impression (based on a talk with both Simon Seegars - ARM CEO - and Jeff Williams - Apple COO - onstage) is that the relationship is pretty close.
You'd expect that ARM would be pretty responsive to the needs of one of its highest profile customers especially given the history and there is no reason why that would change with any sale.
Re: Report: ARM is for sale and Nvidia’s interested, Apple isn’t
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
The number of units Apple sells with ARM designs inside (all devices - desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, and more) are dwarfed in comparison to the ARM ecosystem at large. ARM isn't dependent on Apple for anything really. Even your toaster and fridge probably have ARM licensed designs in them. Your Smartwatch certainly does, and the billions of non-Apple smartphones too. > Chinese lead by Huawei are forced by US sa…
> Pretty sure they were heading that way even without US sanctions. Steal the IP, then make a competing product while paying zero licensing fees to ARM. Huawei would be in a better long-term position if they chose RISC-V versus IP theft.
Maybe... RISC-V might be up-and-coming, but current-day ARM designs are battle tested already and will continue to be very useful for the foreseeable future. Stealing the IP now allows them to produce great CPU's today with far less cost.
It's not trivial to build a CPU. Particularly if there is no existing industry with expertise in this field within your country.