Imagination Technologies Group publicly announced today (Google cache) that Apple has subscribed to 8.2 million new shares giving Apple a 3.6% stake in the company. A press release from IMG also showed Apple to be a licensee of Imagination's PowerVR mobile graphics technology.
The press release which as of writing has been removed was the first public confirmation that Apple is both a licensee and investor in the company which is responsible for the PowerVR 3D chipset used in the iPhone and iPod touch.
Ars Technica is offering a detailed technical overview of how IMG's technologies benefit the iPhone.
The PowerVR MBX is compatible with OpenGL ES 1.1, giving the iPhone its 3D muscle. But ITG has technology on tap in the form of PowerVR SGX and VXD, which could vault the iPhone to new levels. The SGX is compatible with OpenGL ES 2.0, the latest version of the 3D API, and includes a shader engine for more realistic 3D graphics. Not only is it backward-compatible with the current MBX, it can run code faster and more efficiently.
This news combined with the acquisition of P.A. Semi have lead many to believe that Apple is intending to push these technologies towards new and improved iPhone and iPod touch models.