Qualcomm unveils 45nm Snapdragon chipset

Qualcomm's 45nm Snapdragon QSD8650A chipset should be seen in devices next year

Chip maker Qualcomm has developed a new version of its Snapdragon platform based on a 45nm chipset.

The new design bumps up the processor to 1.3GHz from the previous 1GHz, and promises enhanced multimedia and 2D/3D graphics, while still lowering power draw by up to 30 per cent. Standby power is less than 10mW, thereby providing longer battery life.

"This latest addition to the growing family of Snapdragon chipsets will help our customers to develop faster, more power-efficient smartphones and other mobile devices," said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of marketing and product management at Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.

"This new 45nm device shows our continued commitment to extending the capabilities of the Snapdragon platform with leading-edge process technology and an expanded list of integrated features."

The new QSD8650A chipset also offers multi-mode UMTS and CDMA 3G mobile broadband connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS and high-definition video in the same 15x15mm package as current Snapdragon chipsets.

Qualcomm is hoping that the new platform will help drive its concept for a new class of mobile devices designed to be a hybrid between a smartphone and a netbook. However, with some netbooks now offering built-in 3G data support and longer battery life, the distinction is extremely vague.

Snapdragon is starting to gather significant support from developers, and more than 15 manufacturers are due to release at least 30 products based on the platform in the coming months.

These include mobile makers Toshiba, Inventec and HTC, software developers RealNetworks, Phoenix Technologies, Xandros and Conveneer, and notebook manufacturers Asus and Wistron.

"We are pleased to have so many innovative and leading-edge developers now writing software for Snapdragon-based devices, which will include not only the industry's most advanced smartphones but a new category of mobile devices that deliver an experience fundamentally different to anything else on the market today," said Pineda.

The new 45nm Snapdragon QSD8650A chipset is scheduled for sampling before the end of 2009, and should be seen in devices from next year.