Qualcomm accelerates the layout of low-end chip market

On June 20, the 2013 Qualcomm Partner Summit was held in Shenzhen with the theme of "Hand in hand, Core Action and Win-Win". Qualcomm announced the launch of several new Xiaolong 200 processors and its reference design platform (Qualcomm Reference Design). , QRD), and the joint partner showcased a variety of smart phones based on QRD. Qualcomm has built a broader ecosystem for the QRD platform and is also committed to helping its partners expand their markets. According to Jeff Lorbeck, senior vice president of product management and chief operating officer of Greater China, during the summit, Qualcomm organized more than 140 business meetings to facilitate customers to communicate with operators and channel distributors. There were more than 20 first-line brand mobile phone manufacturers, 11 operators, and 3 distributors. At the same time, the QRD-based products produced by its customers have been sold to 17 countries. Their interest is increasing day by day. Also increasing. “We help our customers to establish links with various markets around the world, mainly in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. This is the great value Qualcomm can create for its partners.”

According to reports, the summit attracted more than 1,000 software developers, hardware component providers, mobile phone manufacturers, operators and distributor representatives, as well as media and analysts from 19 countries in China, including 60 hardware and Software vendors demonstrated their solutions tailored and optimized for QRD.

QRD platform for low-end chip market

The biggest highlight of the summit was that Qualcomm launched the new Xiaolong 200 8x10 and 8x12 processors and its corresponding QRD platform to lay out the low-end chip market. The introduction of the chip will provide entry-level smartphones with the best combination of powerful multimedia capabilities and modem technology, as well as longer battery life. It is understood that Xiaolong 200 8x10 and 8x12 processors use 28nm process technology, respectively integrated dual-core and quad-core Cortex A7 CPU, integrated Adreno 302 graphics processor, dual cameras, support for fast charging 1.0, support Android, Windows Phone and Firefox The latest version of the operating system, supports RxD, and supports faster data transfer, lower dropped calls, and a better connection experience with a single multimode modem. At the same time, the new Xiaolong 200 series processors and corresponding QRD products are expected to be available later this year.

Rogoff said that the two chip sets launched this time can support TD-SCDMA, HSPA+ and CDMA three formats, not only supporting China's three major operators: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, but also supporting other than China. National UMTS and CDMA. The two chipsets can effectively support entry-level and mid-range smart phone products. At the same time, Qualcomm has also introduced quad-core 8x26 chips that can support mid-to-high-end smart phones, thus covering low-, medium-, and high-grade systemized smartphones. Chip area. He further pointed out that during the Computex Computex in Taipei in early June, Qualcomm also introduced a new multi-mode 3G/LTE-connected Xiaolong 400 quad-core processor (8926) and the corresponding QRD platform, which can help mobile phone manufacturers enter LTE. Domains, including TD-LTE and LTE FDD. Before this, LTE has always been a high-end field, and only high-end mobile phones can support LTE standard. The introduction of 8926 reduces this threshold, not only enriching Qualcomm's product line, but also helping handset manufacturers build low-end LTE smart phones.

During the summit, Qualcomm distributed two smartphones based on the QRD platform jointly with Tianyu and Hisense. First, the Touch 1 of Tianyu uses the QRD8930 platform to support TD-LTE; the second is the T9 of Hisense, using QRD8130 support. TD-SCDMA, for the first time, is based on the QRD platform to launch products that support China Mobile's band.

Support the development of domestic TD industry

Qualcomm’s entry-level QRD chip laid the foundation for the popularity of low-end LTE mobile terminals. At the same time, mobile phone terminal manufacturers including Tianyu and Hisense spoke highly of Qualcomm’s related chips and significantly improved the operation of mobile terminals. rate. Tang Yanyu, vice president of R&D of Tianyu mobile phone, also stated that the use of QRD platform products can greatly reduce the R&D time of mobile terminals. Tianyu has planned to achieve the production of 1,000-yuan 4G mobile terminals before the end of the year. TD-LTE terminal products will also show diversified development and expand to low-end markets.

Qualcomm introduced the chip based on QRD platform to support TD-SCDMA standard for the first time. The introduction of this chip will effectively support the development of domestic TD-SCDMA terminal industry. Rogerf pointed out that Qualcomm currently has 8x10 and 8x12 in terms of TD-SCDMA chip. The chip is also very promising for the development of the TD-SCDMA industry. In particular, China Mobile has clearly stated that it will sell 120 million TD-SCDMA terminals this year. Many domestic terminal manufacturers hope to enter this field. From the viewpoint of Qualcomm's development of the TD-SCDMA industry, he revealed that the chips that Qualcomm will launch in the future will all be multi-mode chips. Therefore, Qualcomm will also support TD-SCDMA on the basis of supporting CDMA and UMTS.

Coordinate the upstream and downstream industry chain

Due to the unique market position of Qualcomm, Qualcomm has also played its role in guiding the development of the entire ecosystem, helping the upstream and downstream industry chains to achieve better development in the entire ecosystem. Qualcomm is working very closely with software developers, network companies and service providers. These partnerships are global, including India, Latin America, and Europe, and their teams help different partners globally, including designing partner-specific language packs, developing locally-adapted differentiated applications, and partners Deeper cooperation in ecosystems and more.

Rogoff said that in the first half of this year, there was a serious shortage of parts and components. ODMs and OEMs were affected by such shortages, including both display and memory. Qualcomm has already discussed with important component suppliers, through joint cooperation, to ensure that there will be no shortage of components in the second half of the year. From the current situation, this situation will be eased.

He admitted that the shortage of components is very complex and challenging. The main reason is that the current market demand for 3G smart phones has grown too fast. The screen size of mobile phones is getting bigger and bigger, the pixels are getting higher and higher, and the requirements for mobile phones are changing very quickly. Many component vendors supply not only mobile phones, but also flat panels, computers, and so on. It is necessary to predict the requirements of various terminals. The amount of components will be very difficult and very complicated. At the same time, for component companies to ensure profitability, it is necessary to balance the inventory of old and new products and realize the transition from old to new. This is a major issue.