Qualcomm roadmap includes 28nm Snapdragon SoC

Qualcomm has detailed its plans for the Snapdragon processor and other mobile chips over the next few years.

Top of the list is a new 28nm Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC), the MSM8960, which will use two cores and promises five times the performance of the previous version and four times the graphics speed.

The SoC will support 3G and LTE, as well as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and FM radio. Improved design will cut power use by 75 per cent, the company said. Qualcomm will begin sampling the chip next year and the first handsets should arrive in 2012.

Qualcomm is also addressing its graphics performance with a new Adreno 3xx GPU scheduled for release in 2011. It will support OpenCL 1.1 and OpenGL, and will rival the current output from gaming consoles like the PS3 or Xbox 360.

The firm will continue to work with long-time partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing on ramping up 28nm production for fast replacement of the existing 45nm and 65nm product lines.

Qualcomm claims to have the largest processor share of mobile handsets using Android and Windows Phone 7. The company is also making significant early inroads into the tablet market.