Microsoft has built its entire business on software solutions, with its Windows operating system as the base. It looks like the software giant is about to contribute to the development of the circuits that run its applications. According to ARM, Microsoft is currently supporting the company in the development of new processor architectures.
It’s no surprise that architecture developer ARM and Microsoft are becoming closer. Microsoft has revealed that the next Windows operating system will also support ARM’s architectures, beside the regular x86 instructions.
But the information that is said to come from a high up source at ARM indicate that Microsoft is interested in more than just optimizing its software for ARM’s architectures. It also wants to optimize future processor architectures for its software.
During a press conference in Taiwan Philip Lu, VP of ARM Taiwian, said that ARM cooperates with Microsoft to develop new processor architectures. No specifics on the cooperation or exactly what Microsoft is expected to contribute were revealed, but if we are to take Philip Lu literally Microsoft seems to have greater plans for its cooperation with ARM than just the coming operating system Windows 8.
According to several sources it is most likely a close cooperation between ARM and Microsoft is aimed to improve the company’s mobile solutions. Microsoft has with Windows Phone 7 taken up the fight on the smartphone market and with tailored solutiosn for future mobile platforms where it wants to increase its chances of gaining ground on this highly competitive market.
