Broadcom Inc. looks to acquire VMware for $61 billion in a cash and stock transaction and the Patent Forecast® patent data gives us an insight on the reason behind the acquisition. VMware has a strong presence in the Edge Computing Patent Forecast® sector with thirteen (13) total patent assets, meanwhile Broadcom has not had any patent activity of its own in the edge computing sector. Broadcom specializes in designing, developing, and manufacturing semiconductors for data centers, networking, software, broadband, and wireless services. With a lot of opportunity for applying edge computing to networking, software, baseband, and wireless services it would be beneficial for Broadcom to have access to edge computing technology to help integrate and develop semiconductors that are geared towards optimizing edge computing processes. If Broadcom wants to get its foot in the edge computing sector quickly then the best method would be for an acquisition, and VMware is a suitable candidate. VMware’s patents in this sector are directed towards using edge computing in a cloud computing structure to create an edge computing web services platform for its clients, which pairs well with Broadcom’s current operations.

This is a huge acquisition that has the potential to disrupt the Edge Computing Patent Forecast® sector and other semiconductor manufacturers are watching closely to see how this all plays out. Edge computing relies on very specific high powered semiconductors that are capable of quick processing, and this gives semiconductor manufacturers leverage because they produce the hardware necessary to make edge computing possible. Patent Forecast® predicts that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) will acquire Kyndryl in response to Broadcom acquiring VMware. Kyndryl has three (3) patent assets in the edge computing Patent Forecast® sector, which is impressive considering the company was formally founded in 2021. As for AMD they have no patent assets in this sector, but they are actively designing and developing semiconductors that can meet the standards necessary to run an edge computing system, acquiring Kyndryl could give AMD the jump start necessary to become a big player in the edge computing sector.