(iTers News) – Microprocessor chip giant Intel Corp's charge into the Chinese mobile SoC, or systems on chip market has just began in what analysts said is the firt license of its processor architecture to third party chip maker.  

The PC microprocessor chip titan has signed a strategic agreement with Rockchip to allow the Chinese fabless mobile SoC maker  to use its Atom processor core to build a line of intergrated mobile SoC platform that combines an applications processor and communications modem processor on a single silicon die. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Intel will license its Atom processor for Rockchip to build  Intel's upcoming SoFIA family of integarted mobile SoC. The deal marks Intel 's first deal to license its processor architecture to third party chip maker.

It's too early to say that this deal is the start of Intel's processor core licensing business, but given that rival ARM Holdings is expanding its ARM core architecture ecosystem beyond mobile devices into IoTs, or Internet of Things, it offers a clue to where Intel will be heading for in the near future.    

Rockchip will use the Atom processor to build an integrated mobile SoC for entry-level tablte PC and then sell it under the brand name of Intel's SoFIA family, not on its own brand.  The new quad-core SoFIA 3G plaftform will be available in the first half of 2015, targeting primarily entry and value tablets.

The Intel SoFIA family is  Intel's first integrated mobile SoC paltform that integrates applications processor and communications platform with the debut of its first generation dual core-based platoform in the fourth quarter of 2013. 

For Intel, the deal will help to expand its presence in Chinese mobile SoC market for tablet PCs, as it can make the best use of Rockchip's sales network to sell more of mobile SoCs in local Chinese market.

Rockchip is now supplying a line of ARM core processor-based mobile SoC solutions for a string of local Chinese  smartphone and tablet PC makers.

"The strategic agreement with Rockchip is an example of Intel's commitment to take pragmatic and different approaches to grow our presence in the global mobile market by more quickly delivering a broader portfolio of Intel architecture and communications technology solutions," said Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO.

"With today's announcement we've added yet another derivative to the Intel SoFIA family, and we expect to have them all in market before the middle of 2015. We are moving with velocity to grow Intel's offerings for the growing global tablet market."

The strategic agreement with Intel expands Rockchip's product portfolio with the addition of the performance and flexibility of the Intel architecture and leading communications solutions.

Min Li, Rockchip CEO said. "The combination of Intel's leading architecture and modem technology with our leading mobile design capability brings greater choice to the growing global market for mobile devices in the entry and value segments."

In addtion to the second generation of a quad-core 3G SoFIA platform, Intel will roll out its third geenration LTE version in the first half of next year.