Qualcomm steps up Snapdragon challenge to Intel

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Qualcomm steps up Snapdragon challenge to Intel

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 14 November, 2008

READ MORE: Intel | Qualcomm

In the week that Intel shocked the markets by slashing its fourth quarter forecasts, the vultures were gathering to pick at its star product, the Atom processor for mobile internet devices (MIDs).

Though PC slowdown was the main factor in the giant's downgrade - it reduced its sales forecast from $10.1bn-$10.9bn, to $8.7bn-$9.3bn - pressure on margins and revenues is also partly blamed on Atom, and its possible cannibalization of higher value processors. It will also be facing stepped-up competition, as Qualcomm doubles the power of its rival, Snapdragon, and promises devices early next year - and AMD announces its own challenge (see separate item).

Qualcomm is becoming an almost constant thorn in Intel's side. Earlier this week it announced Kayak, a platform for Windows alternatives for emerging markets, which will evolve to support Snapdragon in future. Now it has lined up 15 vendors to support Snapdragon, its offering for mobile internet devices and consumer gadgets, and upgraded the platform.

Importantly, the powerful Taiwanese PC and device community is getting behind Snapdragon, with over half the supporters' club coming from the island. Announced backers include Acer, Asus, Compal, Foxconn, HTC, Inventec, LG, Quanta, Samsung and Toshiba.

Meanwhile, the latest iteration of Snapdragon integrates two cores into a single 45nm chip, running at up to 1.5GHz. The dual-CPU QSD8672 product targets more advanced mobile computing devices, the chip designer said, improving battery life as well as power and supporting the latest generations of HSPA, including HSPA+. Sampling is scheduled for the second half of 2009.

Aimed at netbooks and MIDs, the new Snapdragon also integrates GPS, Bluetooth, 1080p high definition video recording and playback, Wi-Fi and mobile TV technologies such as MediaFLO, DVB-H and ISDB-T.