Editing ARM architecture family (section)

==Licensing==
{{See also|Arm Holdings#Licensees}}
[[File:STM32F103VGT6-HD.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[Die (integrated circuit)|Die]] of a [[STM32]]&shy;F103VGT6 [[ARM Cortex-M3]] microcontroller with 1&nbsp;[[megabyte|MB]] [[flash memory]] by [[STMicroelectronics]] ]]

===Core licence===
Arm Holdings's primary business is selling [[IP core]]s, which licensees use to create [[microcontroller]]s (MCUs), [[CPU]]s, and [[system on a chip|systems-on-chips]] based on those cores. The [[original design manufacturer]] combines the ARM core with other parts to produce a complete device, typically one that can be built in existing [[semiconductor fabrication plant]]s (fabs) at low cost and still deliver substantial performance. The most successful implementation has been the [[ARM7#ARM7TDMI|ARM7TDMI]] with hundreds of millions sold. [[Atmel]] has been a precursor design center in the ARM7TDMI-based embedded system.

The ARM architectures used in smartphones, PDAs and other [[mobile device]]s range from ARMv5 to {{nowrap|ARMv8-A}}.

In 2009, some manufacturers introduced netbooks based on ARM architecture CPUs, in direct competition with netbooks based on [[Intel Atom]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Always-Innovating-Touch-Book/ |title=ARM netbook ships with detachable tablet |first=Eric |last=Brown |year=2009 |access-date=19 August 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103181613/http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Always-Innovating-Touch-Book/ |archive-date=3 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Arm Holdings offers a variety of licensing terms, varying in cost and deliverables. Arm Holdings provides to all licensees an integratable hardware description of the ARM core as well as complete software development toolset ([[compiler]], [[debugger]], [[software development kit]]), and the right to sell manufactured [[semiconductor device|silicon]] containing the ARM CPU.

SoC packages integrating ARM's core designs include Nvidia Tegra's first three generations, CSR plc's Quatro family, ST-Ericsson's Nova and NovaThor, Silicon Labs's Precision32 MCU, Texas Instruments's [[OMAP]] products, Samsung's Hummingbird and [[Exynos]] products, Apple's [[Apple A4|A4]], [[Apple A5|A5]], and [[Apple A5X|A5X]],<!-- but not later Apple SoCs, which have Apple-designed cores --> and [[NXP Semiconductors|NXP]]'s [[i.MX]].

[[Fabless manufacturing|Fabless]] licensees, who wish to integrate an ARM core into their own chip design, are usually only interested in acquiring a ready-to-manufacture verified [[semiconductor intellectual property core]]. For these customers, Arm Holdings delivers a [[netlist|gate netlist]] description of the chosen ARM core, along with an abstracted simulation model and test programs to aid design integration and verification. More ambitious customers, including integrated device manufacturers (IDM) and foundry operators, choose to acquire the processor IP in [[logic synthesis|synthesizable]] [[register-transfer level|RTL]] ([[Verilog]]) form. With the synthesizable RTL, the customer has the ability to perform architectural level optimisations and extensions. This allows the designer to achieve exotic design goals not otherwise possible with an unmodified netlist ([[clock rate|high clock speed]], very low power consumption, instruction set extensions, etc.). While Arm Holdings does not grant the licensee the right to resell the ARM architecture itself, licensees may freely sell manufactured products such as chip devices, evaluation boards and complete systems. [[Foundry model|Merchant foundries]] can be a special case; not only are they allowed to sell finished silicon containing ARM cores, they generally hold the right to re-manufacture ARM cores for other customers.

Arm Holdings prices its IP based on perceived value. Lower performing ARM cores typically have lower licence costs than higher performing cores. In implementation terms, a synthesisable core costs more than a hard macro (blackbox) core. Complicating price matters, a merchant foundry that holds an ARM licence, such as Samsung or Fujitsu, can offer fab customers reduced licensing costs. In exchange for acquiring the ARM core through the foundry's in-house design services, the customer can reduce or eliminate payment of ARM's upfront licence fee.

Compared to dedicated semiconductor foundries (such as [[TSMC]] and [[United Microelectronics Corporation|UMC]]) without in-house design services, Fujitsu/Samsung charge two- to three-times more per manufactured [[wafer (electronics)|wafer]].{{citation needed|date=May 2013}} For low to mid volume applications, a design service foundry offers lower overall pricing (through subsidisation of the licence fee). For high volume mass-produced parts, the long term cost reduction achievable through lower wafer pricing reduces the impact of ARM's NRE ([[non-recurring engineering]]) costs, making the dedicated foundry a better choice.

Companies that have developed chips with cores designed by Arm include [[Amazon.com]]'s [[Annapurna Labs]] subsidiary,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328624& |title=Amazon Now Sells Own ARM chips |author=Peter Clarke |date=7 January 2016}}</ref> [[Analog Devices]], [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[AppliedMicro]] (now: [[MACOM Technology Solutions]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.macom.com/about/news-and-events/press-release-archive/row-col1/news--event-archive/macom-successfully-completes-a-1 |title=MACOM Successfully Completes Acquisition of AppliedMicro |date=26 January 2017}}</ref>), [[Atmel]], [[Broadcom]], [[Cavium]], [[Cypress Semiconductor]], [[Freescale Semiconductor]] (now [[NXP Semiconductors]]), [[Huawei]], [[Intel]],{{Dubious|ARM-based chips and Intel|reason=StrongARM and XScale did not use cores designed by Arm, and no other ARM-based Intel chips are known|date=December 2019}} [[Maxim Integrated]], [[Nvidia]], [[NXP]], [[Qualcomm]], [[Renesas Electronics|Renesas]], [[Samsung Electronics]], [[ST Microelectronics]], [[Texas Instruments]], and [[Xilinx]].

===Built on ARM Cortex Technology licence===
In February 2016, ARM announced the Built on ARM Cortex Technology licence, often shortened to Built on Cortex (BoC) licence. This licence allows companies to partner with ARM and make modifications to ARM Cortex designs. These design modifications will not be shared with other companies. These semi-custom core designs also have brand freedom, for example [[Kryo#Kryo 280|Kryo 280]].

Companies that are current licensees of Built on ARM Cortex Technology include [[Qualcomm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/10366/arm-built-on-cortex-license |title=ARM Details Built on ARM Cortex Technology License |last=Frumusanu |first=Andrei |website=[[AnandTech]] |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref>

===Architectural licence===
Companies can also obtain an ARM ''architectural licence'' for designing their own CPU cores using the ARM instruction sets. These cores must comply fully with the ARM architecture. Companies that have designed cores that implement an ARM architecture include Apple, AppliedMicro (now: [[Ampere Computing]]), Broadcom, [[Cavium]] (now: Marvell), [[Digital Equipment Corporation]], Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, [[Fujitsu]], and NUVIA Inc. (acquired by Qualcomm in 2021).

===ARM Flexible Access===
On 16 July 2019, ARM announced ARM Flexible Access. ARM Flexible Access provides unlimited access to included ARM [[intellectual property]] (IP) for development. Per product licence fees are required once a customer reaches foundry tapeout or prototyping.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/14644/arm-flexible-access-design-the-soc-before-spending-money |title=ARM Flexible Access: Design the SoC Before Spending Money |last=Cutress |first=Ian |website=[[AnandTech]] |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arm.com/products/flexible-access/faqs |title=ARM Flexible Access Frequently Asked Questions |website=ARM |access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>

75% of ARM's most recent IP over the last two years are included in ARM Flexible Access. As of October 2019:
* CPUs: [[ARM Cortex-A5|Cortex-A5]], [[ARM Cortex-A7|Cortex-A7]], [[ARM Cortex-A32|Cortex-A32]], [[ARM Cortex-A34|Cortex-A34]], [[ARM Cortex-A35|Cortex-A35]], [[ARM Cortex-A53|Cortex-A53]], [[ARM Cortex-R5|Cortex-R5]], [[ARM Cortex-R8|Cortex-R8]], [[ARM Cortex-R52|Cortex-R52]], [[ARM Cortex-M0|Cortex-M0]], [[ARM Cortex-M0+|Cortex-M0+]], [[ARM Cortex-M3|Cortex-M3]], [[ARM Cortex-M4|Cortex-M4]], [[ARM Cortex-M#Cortex-M7|Cortex-M7]], [[ARM Cortex-M#Cortex-M23|Cortex-M23]], [[ARM Cortex-M#Cortex-M33|Cortex-M33]]
* GPUs: [[Mali (GPU)|Mali-G52]], [[Mali (GPU)|Mali-G31]]. Includes Mali Driver Development Kits (DDK).
* Interconnect: CoreLink NIC-400, CoreLink NIC-450, CoreLink CCI-400, CoreLink CCI-500, CoreLink CCI-550, ADB-400 AMBA, XHB-400 AXI-AHB
* System Controllers: CoreLink GIC-400, CoreLink GIC-500, PL192 VIC, BP141 TrustZone Memory Wrapper, CoreLink TZC-400, CoreLink L2C-310, CoreLink MMU-500, BP140 Memory Interface
* Security IP: CryptoCell-312, CryptoCell-712, TrustZone True Random Number Generator
* Peripheral Controllers: PL011 UART, PL022 SPI, PL031 RTC
* Debug & Trace: CoreSight SoC-400, CoreSight SDC-600, CoreSight STM-500, CoreSight System Trace Macrocell, CoreSight Trace Memory Controller
* Design Kits: Corstone-101, Corstone-201
* Physical IP: Artisan PIK for Cortex-M33 TSMC 22ULL including memory compilers, logic libraries, GPIOs and documentation
* Tools & Materials: Socrates IP ToolingARM Design Studio, Virtual System Models
* Support: Standard ARM Technical support, ARM online training, maintenance updates, credits toward onsite training and design reviews