According to news agency Reuters, Apple has notified the developer of graphic cores - the British company Imagination Technologies - about the intention to abandon its services for a year and a half or two. At the same time Apple refused to inform the company-developer how it intends to continue the release of processor assemblies without Imagination Technologies participation, without concluding a new licensing agreement with it. According to Imagination Technologies, Apple will not be able to do without development of the company, without violating the license. This allows that in future patent wars between Apple and Imagination Technologies may start.
From working with Apple, Imagination Technologies receives about half of its revenue, a large part of which it spends on developing new products. So, for the last fiscal year, it received from Apple about 60.7 million pounds (about $ 76 million) and in the new year expects revenue growth from the contract with Apple to 65 million pounds sterling. The threat of losing this money caused so much distrust of the company's shares that they fell 76% in the two days to the level of 2009.
According to analysts, this sometimes happens with Apple when it suddenly stops working with that or other solution provider. For the company this is common practice. So, in the past work with Apple lost the company Portal Player, Sigmatel, CSR and Wolfson. To all of them, Apple found a replacement. The trouble with Imagination Technologies is that it is too dependent on working with Apple. But even with her help, last year was the worst year for Imagination Technologies in its history. In July 2016, it was the first time to show the largest operating losses in its history at $ 80 million.
In this story there is another interesting point. Apple owns an 8% stake in Imagination Technologies. Earlier there were rumors that Apple was ready to become the sole owner of the developer.