Qualcomm plans on challenging Intel on the netbook and mobile Internet device (MID) front, arguing that its Snapdragon chipset will out-compete Intel's Atom processor in the growing market segment.
Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs said he anticipated Intel would try to get into the smartphone and MID space at the same time Qualcomm would be rolling out Snapdragon devices. He said he expected 15 companies to launch MIDs and netbooks based on Snapdragon in the first half of 2009, and that they would have a significant advantage over Intel's products. Jacobs compared a Snapdragon device to something akin to a Research In Motion BlackBerry device in that it would always be on.
Qualcomm demonstrated Google's Android platform on Snapdragon last week at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, and said the demonstration was intended to show that Android can run on mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and larger WVGA displays, such as net tablets, which is what Snapdragon is optimized for doing. Qualcomm has said some of the companies it is currently working with to develop Snapdragon devices include handset makers HTC, LG and Samsung.
For more:
-see this Financial Times article
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