Apple busy working on ARM processor for future iPhones

Apple usually doesn’t like to say anything about their future products until they are officially presented by the company and Steve Jobs. But Wei-han Lein, the senior manager of Apple’s chip team, has confirmed in an interview with LinkedIn that Apple was currently working on its own ARM processor for the next-generation iPhone. This just confirms what people have been speculating since the early part of the year when Apple acquired chip start-up P.A. Semiconductor for close to $300 million. Although current iPhones already possess a ARM processor developed by Samsung. But with Apple acquiring P.A. Semi, with Lein being part of the P.A. Semi team, Steve Jobs and Apple plan to custom make their own ARM processors which would give Apple the ability to control who knows about future products by eliminating a outside chip source. By going back to its old roots, when Apple develops their own processors and chips, they will be able to specifically fit the needs of iPhones and iPods as well as cut production costs because they will no longer have to rely on outside sources. But lastly, this move will give Apple some competitive advantages. Please stay tuned as more information comes our way.

- Geoff

[Source: Bits.Blog.NYTimes]