Microsoft signed a new agreement to license technology for Arm microchip architecture, growing potential for software giant to pursue in Apple's steps and design its self Arm-based chips.

The new license really widens the technologies Microsoft can make utilize of from Arm Holdings. The corporations have team up for years on software and devices mostly in mobile, consumer and entrenched products.

"We contain licensed our architecture and our order set to Microsoft," said Ian Drew, executive vice president of promoting at Arm. "This kind of license permits you to intend self micro architecture."

Only a choose group of corporations hold same licenses to intend their self Arm-based micro architectures, as well as mobile phone chip giant Qualcomm, as well as Marvell Technology and Infineon Technologies. "As an architectural licensee, Microsoft needs to go public regarding adding itself to that short list," Drew said.

Arm Holdings licenses Arm technology to a number of corporations all around world. Arm-based microprocessors are found in majority of the world's smartphones. Intel, world's largest chip producer, has developed its Atom microchips in trust of one day competitor Arm-based microprocessors in smartphones and additional tiny devices. Microsoft and Arm said size and scope of deal are secret.