It looks like IBM processors are good for something else other than being the central nervous system of the Sony PlayStation gaming consoles or the Toshiba television sets. Thus, according to Reuters, the American manufacturer has struck a licensing deal with Mercury Computer Systems Inc., a medical and military equipments manufacturer.

The agreement refers to the IBM's Cell processor, and Mercury intends for the processor to become the core technology to power a range of "embedded" computers it designs for magnetic resonance image scanners in medicine to missile radar and sonar systems for military uses.

IBM and Mercury have signed a multiyear agreement according to which teams of IBM engineers will develop Cell processors specially adapted to Mercury's requirements.

The Cell processor will be used within the Sony PlayStation gaming consoles and the future line of Toshiba TVs, which are devices demanding a very high graphic processing capacity. Although many analysts have their doubts regarding Cell's success beyond the limits of the gaming equipments industry, IBM's officials are convinced that the processor will find itself multiple uses on the future. "We are beginning to expand the adoption of Cell into other industries," said Raj Desai, vice president of IBM engineering and technology services -- the custom chip design unit.