ARM buys fabless SoC maker

Triscend acquired

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Channel, 28th January 2004 10:31 GMT

Free research: Application platforms, the state of play

ARM has acquired customisable microcontroller and SoC developer Triscend for up to $15 million in cash - $13.2 million now and up to $1.8 million more in the next 12 months if the Californian company meets a number of performance targets.

Triscend has a number of ARM connections already. Its president and CEO, Reynette Au, joined the company in 2002 from ARM's US wing. And the company's SoC platform is based on ARM cores.

The deal brings ARM an established microcontroller platform. More importantly, it gives it ownership of a 32-bit platform ahead of an anticipated increase in the number of customers looking to upgrade from 8- or 16-bit microcontrollers.

"Given the industry trend for upgrading 8- and 16-bit MCU designs, ARM believes the 32-bit MCU market will grow substantially over the next few years," said ARM CEO Warren East, in a statement. "By investing in this market now with the acquisition of Triscend, the ARM partnership will be well positioned to take advantage of the anticipated growth."

The company said it will be hopes to proliferate the ARM architecture by selling Triscend's configurable microcontrollers to OEMs for "emerging applications". ®

Free research: Application platforms, the state of play