ARM's latest processor is the Cortex-M0+ and the company claims it to be the most energy efficient processor in the world.
It is said to deliver 32-bit processor performance for the same
power consumption of an 8-bit device. With its new device ARM is
targeting devices such as sensors and micro-controllers, and as such has introduced
the M0+ at an extremely low cost (possibly as low as 50c
per chip).
This instantly makes it very attractive to device manufacturers
who want to include processing and micro-control capability on devices at much
lower price point than currently considered. This step in device evolution is
one of the key ones in enabling the growth of the internet
of things, in which every day devices are able to communicate and share information.