MWC: Final day sees UK company ARM in buoyant mood

ARM expects a hefty revenue boost from its multi-core processor designs, while more opinions are voiced on the Microsoft/Nokia deal

Despite the local football team losing to London side Arsenal last night, there was still plenty to keep the atmosphere in Barcelona buzzing on the final day of the Mobile World Congress.

UK chip designer ARM said that it is expecting to see a boost in revenues from new high-end smartphones unveiled at the event. It has designed multi-core processor technologies, which it will license to chip makers such as Broadcom, Samsung and Renesas. These will then be incorporated into high-end devices.

ARM earns revenue from royalties on the sale of microprocessor units, as well as charging a licensing fee for the use of its technology.

The firm's chief executive, Warren East, told Reuters that its royalty revenues would be boosted by the speed of adoption of its newest multi-core processors that are powering many of the smartphones unveiled in Barcelona.

"We are not surprised by the speed of the rollout as these chips have more functionality and we are giving more value to our customers, and we therefore expect to be paid more," said East.

Meanwhile, everyone seems to have an opinion on the Microsoft/Nokia deal. Mobile operator Orange said that it was worried that the two companies would adopt a closed system akin to Apple's iPhone.

"We want a mobile ecosystem that is open and allows our clients to use all the services they want, not closed systems that benefit one company or another," Jean-Paul Cottet, Orange's chief of marketing and innovation, said.

Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone 4 was today awarded the 2011 best phone award by judges at MWC. They hailed its display, design, materials used and ecosystem for app developers.