Apple Pulling Out of Imagination Technologies Relationship →

Sam Byford at The Verge:

Imagination Technologies, the British chip designer that provides PowerVR graphics processors for use in the iPhone and iPad, has said that Apple will no longer be licensing its technology in less than two years’ time. In a statement, Imagination says that Apple has notified the company that it’s “working on a separate, independent graphics design in order to control its products and will be reducing its future reliance on Imagination’s technology.”

Here’s a bit from that statement:

Apple has used Imagination’s technology and intellectual property for many years. It has formed the basis of Graphics Processor Units (“GPUs”) in Apple’s phones, tablets, iPods, TVs and watches. Apple has asserted that it has been working on a separate, independent graphics design in order to control its products and will be reducing its future reliance on Imagination’s technology.

Apple has not presented any evidence to substantiate its assertion that it will no longer require Imagination’s technology, without violating Imagination’s patents, intellectual property and confidential information. This evidence has been requested by Imagination but Apple has declined to provide it.

That’s some pretty strong language from Imagination Technologies, but I can understand why. According to Byford, its Apple contract makes up about half of the company’s revenue.

I have little doubt that Apple is working toward building its own GPUs for iOS devices. Like the A series of CPUs, Apple would be able to fine-tune its own silicon for its own needs and see drastic results.