Microsoft’s licencing deal with chip-designer ARM Holdings has raised speculations that Microsoft’s partnership with Intel, dubbed Wintel, will come to an end.

Intel has already announced that Meego was rolled out as Microsoft was not providing adequate support for its Atom platform. It may also be noted here that Microsoft did not adapt its Windows 7 to go well with Intel's requirements.

Intel has historically supported Mac, Linux and the like, Microsoft supported other x86 manufacturers such as VIA, AMD and Cyrix as well as non-x86 manufacturers like Alpha and MIPS.

Microsoft’s newly hit deal with ARM Holdings that will permit it to design chips based on ARM technology, which will help the software makers in designing its own applications processor for smartphones and gaming consoles.

The deal also boosted hopes that future versions of Windows will run on Arm-powered hardware, which will prove to be a game changer for ARM. The announcement of the deal pushed shares in ARM Holdings up by the most in around past two years in London trading.

Shares in Intel gained 11.6 per cent or 36.8 pence to close at 353.2 pence-a-share in the after-hours trading.