Though ARM Holdings of Cambridge, England is not well-known outside the chip business, its Advanced RISC Machines technology is becoming "the de facto standard for wireless devices in much the same way that chips based on the x86 instruction set have become the standard for the personal computer." Most mobile phones rely on ARM's chip technology, as do several new handheld computers. ARM licenses its embedded processor designs to bigger chipmakers and sells design tools and support. Among the licensees are Intel, Texas Instruments, and Motorola.

For a backgrounder on ARM Holding, click forbes.com.