When Apple launched its new iPhone earlier this month, the device hit record-breaking sales. This helped boost Apple’s stock considerably, hardly surprising since half of its revenues come from iPhone sales. But besides these solid figures, the iPhone 5s was notable for something else entirely, coming with a new component that could prove to be a game-changer in the world of mobile computing.

The 64-bit chip is born

Apple’s iPhone 5s is the world’s first smartphone powered by a 64-bit ARM chip, and was almost immediately followed by the next-generation iPad Air and iPad Mini. Although built on ARM architecture, the A7 chip was custom-made by Apple, and stirred up controversy the moment it was released.

The strongest reaction came from Qualcomm’s CMO Anand Chandrasekher, who stated, “I know there’s a lot of noise because Apple did [64-bit] on their A7. I think they are doing a marketing gimmick. There’s zero benefit a consumer gets from that.”

Realizing that Chandrasekher’s comments were somewhat foolish, Qualcomm quickly backtracked, stating that, “The comments made by Anand Chandrasekher, Qualcomm CMO, about 64-bit computing were inaccurate.”

Unfortunately for Qualcomm the reality is that 64-bit computing is coming to mobile devices, and Apple is leading the way. Qualcomm knows this, and even admitted as much in the second part of its statement:

“The mobile hardware and software ecosystem is already moving in the direction of 64-bit; and, the evolution to 64-bit brings desktop class capabilities and user experiences to mobile, as well as enabling mobile processors and software to run new classes of computing devices.”

What’s the big deal?

David Floyer, the CTO and co-founder of Wikibon, discusses the impact of the 64-bit chip in his newest professional alert, “64-bit ARM Ushers in the Mobile-Cloud Application Model.” One of the biggest implications will be with mobile cost reduction, where the ARM ecosystem offers a huge advantage over that of the x86.

“Apple ships the new iPad Air for $500 (16Gbytes, WiFi), and includes its basic suite of programs (Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand). Microsoft software alone for Windows and Microsoft Office costs more,” writes Floyer.

“The Intel chips that drive the Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet are many times more expensive than the ARM chips. Touch screens, key-boards and a mouse are required to use the Microsoft Windows 8 software. Time-to-value for a new iPad migrating from a previous iPad is measured in minutes – two thirds of Apple devices are running the latest iOS 7 operating system. Time-to-value with migration to a new Microsoft Surface Pro or Microsoft PC is measured in days.”

Floyer points out that while there’s still a good market for high performance desktops and larger clients, particularly for intense content creation and gaming, these markets are likely to shrink in the long term as mobile-cloud devices become the platform of choice for consumers. With the 64-bit chip set to become a mainstay in mobile devices, the higher functionality and lower costs will only accelerate the ‘Post-PC’ era.

Game-changer for Apple?

When it launched its A7-powered iPhone 5s, Apple used the term “desktop-class” on more than one occasion whilst describing the processor, something that Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Canonical, believes is no accident:

“People are saying yes, mobile processors are catching up with the desktop. When Apple announced the iPhone 5s, it called the processor “desktop-class,” and I don’t think that was an accident,” said Shuttleworth in an interview with PC Pro.

“It was sending what we think is a very clear signal that it will converge the iPhone and the MacBook Air. There’s no point talking about the desktop performance of your CPU unless you plan to make a desktop device with that CPU.”

Shuttleworth, whose made no secret of his own desire to achieve convergence with the Ubuntu operating system, could be onto something. A unified, converged operating system is thought by some to be the end goal of both Microsoft and Google. That Apple has gotten its 64-bit mobile devices to the market first indicates it could well be in pole position to surprise everyone and achieve that goal first.