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UK chip maker Imagination signs new licensing deal with Apple

Apple will be able to access the intellectual property of Imagination Technologies again less than three years after it split from the UK-based chip designer following the announcement of a new licensing deal.

In a short statement, Imagination said that it felt “resurgent” after signing the multi-year licence, which will enable Apple to dip into its tech portfolio in exchange for fees.

Apple had a similar agreement with Imagination before when the latter provided the GPUs for a number of successful mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad.

Imagination was a key supplier but became increasingly reliant on Apple, which accounted for around 50% of the company’s revenue.

Apple made the decision to design its own chips three years ago, which eventually led to the rise of its Bionic chips, including the A11 that powered the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

Imagination’s value plummeted after Apple ended its deal with only a few days’ notice, and the company was eventually purchased by Canyon Bridge for £550m in late 2017.

Apple did not disclose any details of the new deal, but the Hertfordshire-based Imagination was more forthcoming.

In a statement released on Thursday, a spokesperson said: “We can’t comment on today’s announcement, but I think it’s one of several things Imagination has to feel good about as we head into 2020.”

The latest deal comes just weeks after Imagination hailed the launch of its most important mobile GPU architecture for more than decade.

Apple had been discussing alternative commercial arrangements with Imagination after it severed ties and even considered a takeover similar to the one it completed with Intel’s smartphone modem enterprise.

However, the Financial Times said that it eventually decided against that option and now appears ready to forge a more direct partnership, with the licensing deal set to run for at least three years.

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Chris

I've been a passionate evangelist for Apple and the Macintosh throughout my working life, my first love was a Quadra 605 working with a small creative agency in the south of Norfolk UK in the mid 1990's, I later progressed to other roles in other Macintosh dominated industries, first as a Senior graphic designer at a small printing company and then a production manager at Guardian Media Group. As the publishing and printing sector wained I moved into Internet Marketing and in 2006 co-founded blurtit.com which grew to become one the top 200 visited sites in the US (according to Quantcast), at its peak receiving over 15 million visits per month. For the last ten years I have worked as an Affiliate and Consultant to many different business and start ups, my key skill set being online marketing, on page monetisation, landing page optimisation and traffic generation, if you would like to hire me or discuss your current project please reach out to me here.

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