(Telecompaper) Chipmaker ARM has announced the acquisition of UK imaging products company Apical for USD 350 million in cash. ARM described Apical as one of the UK's fastest-growing technology companies, whose advanced imaging products are currently used in more than 1.5 billion smartphones and around 300 million other consumer electronics devices, digital cameras and tablets. The acquisition is intended to support ARM's long-term growth strategy by enabling new imaging products for next generation vehicles, security systems, robotics, mobile and any consumer, smart building, industrial or retail application where intelligent image processing is needed.