Apple to make its own chips?

Rumours are circulating that Apple intends to develop chips in-house for its mobile devices.

The Wall Street Journal claims that Apple is building the capability to design its own hardware, in a move to create more exclusive features and further cement Apple as a closed system of products.

A number of contributing factors have been cited in the speculation, chief among these has been Apple recent recruitment strategy.

Apple recently hired AMD’s former chief technology officer Raja Koduri. The Inquirer notes that he is the second AMD executive to move to Cupertino in as many weeks, after the chief technology officer of the Graphics Product Group, Bob Drebin, made the same move.

According to the Apple Insider, former IBM server development specialist Mark Papermaster has finally assumed a role as head of Apple’s iPod and iPhone development teams. When the appointment was announced last November, IBM initiated a lengthy court battle, claiming breach of contract and citing Mr. Papermaster’s knowledge of “significant and highly confidential IBM trade secrets.”

Additionally, Apple’s acquisition of chip design firm P.A Semi last year has been called back in to significance. At the time, Engadget noted that the company specialised in creating energy efficient CPU’s.