Imagination licenses PowerVR SGX MP to Samsung

LONDON – Media processing intellectual property licensor Imagination Technologies Group plc has announced it has licensed Samsung to use IP from Imagination's PowerVR SGX MP multiprocessor graphics family.

Samsung will deploy Imagination's technologies in multiple SoCs targeting mobile and consumer markets, Imagination said.

Samsung has been a long-time PowerVR licensee. However, Samsung did move to license Mali graphics from ARM early in 2010 for use across its SoC, ASIC and foundry businesses. At the time Imagination said it was not worried and expected to have continued success with Samsung.

What remains unclear is whether Samsung is bouncing between ARM and Imagination or is pursuing a multiple graphics provider policy; with selection based on application requirements and customer preferences.

A similar pattern has occurred at ST-Ericsson with ARM winning graphics core design slots in some of the company's more recent mobile phone chips only for Imagination to announce a design win for PowerVR Series 6 in the Nova A9600 applications processor.


Related links and articles:

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Analysis: 'Rogue' design win hurts ARM

Imagination unfazed by Samsung's Mali move