Multicore penetrates mobile

Although multi-core processors are common today in notebook PCs, they are only beginning to become common place in other mobile devices, according to market research by In-Stat. In-Stat projects 2010 will be a key year for adoption of multi-core processors in netbooks and smartphones in 2010, while MIDs/UMPCs will see uptake in 2011, and CE devices will follow during 2012/2013.
The use of multiple cores is more common with the x86 architecture today due to it’s dominance in the notebook PC segment. However, the ARM architecture will see a higher growth rate as the architecture transitions to multi-core configurations. By 2013, almost 88% of the processors sold into the mobile market segment will be multi-core processors, says the report.
“Integration of graphics/multimedia acceleration is a key trend as well”, says Jim McGregor, In-Stat analyst. “While multi-core dominates in the high performance mobile computing segments, integration of graphics/multimedia acceleration favors the smartphone, MID/UMPC and mobile entertainment device segment.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

- The mobile market for merchant processing solutions is expected to grow at a 22.3% CAGR through 2013. By 2013, the market is projected to grow to about 775 million units.
- The battle for the fast-growing mobile semiconductor market will intensify beginning in late 2009 and throughout 2010 with the introduction of new multi-core processors from each camp—ARM and x86.