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Qualcomm Not Just for Chips, Moving into the Android Handset Business

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qualcomm-logoQualcomm has been a big part of Android, manufacturing the chipsets that run in just about three quarters of all handsets using Google’s OS, but they are looking to make an even bigger impact on the smartphone market with a project being dubbed “Quadroid.” The project involves Qualcomm diving headfirst into the smartphone mix through the creation of their own Android handsets.

Qualcomm is focusing on quick turnaround, speeding up production of their current CPUs to get ready for a handset launch in the next four to five months. The plan is for the phone to offer the latest and greatest in terms of OS version and hardware, so expect dual-cores and Android Honeycomb (or at least Gingerbread) when the device drops.

It seems more and more companies that have only been involved on the outskirts of phone manufacturing are seeing dollar signs when it comes to smartphones. Just don’t forget that with an untested manufacturer there is always the chance of an egg being laid, no matter how good their component manufacturing heritage is.

[via AndroidGuys]

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12 Comments

  1. Read the original article. Did not see anything about Qualcomm making an actual device.

  2. They have made handsets before. I used to own a Qualcomm Palm smartphone. (Jointly made by Kyocera, I think?)

  3. The link just became a 404.

  4. interesting…. just as long as they don’t become like Samsung and make phone after phone leaving the current ones unsupported.

  5. Okay Qualcomm, you’ve peaked my interest… lets see what you can do.

  6. @bod,
    *piqued
    now you know :)

  7. In the 90’s when digital mobile phone tech was just launching, I sold at least 2 different Qualcomm branded handsets at Radio Shack for the Sprint PCS network.

  8. Check out a Youtube clip of a UI Qualcomm has been working on. It looks interesting.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMgqB5NARtQ

  9. 100% guarantee that QCOM is not making handsets. Why would QCOM destroy their business of selling chips by competing with the very companies that would buy their chips?

    Please don’t post articles like this, it looks like less than 2 minutes of thought or research was done…

  10. If Samsung makes Hummingbird and make phones who not Qualcomm?

  11. As Qualcomm employee I can very very surprised if Qualcomm starts making smart phones. The company realized that it doesn’t have the expertise or time to develop smart phones and it can make more money selling chipsets to smart phone manufacturers. I doubt that will change any time soon.

    @Pachi, Do you see Samsung’s primary business as selling the Humming bird processors to smartphone manufacturers? Yeah, didn’t think so. So, it doesn’t make sense comparing it to Qualcomm.

    It’s like you asking — (a fictional) Honda also makes tires, so what makes you think Good year won’t make cars?

  12. Way too many typos in my prev msg. Sorry.

    As a Qualcomm employee I would be very very surprised if Qualcomm starts making smart phones. The company realized that it doesn’t have the expertise or time to develop smart phones and it can make more money selling chipsets to smart phone manufacturers. I doubt that will change any time soon.

    @Pachi, Do you see Samsung’s primary business as selling the Humming bird processors to smartphone manufacturers? Yeah, didn’t think so. So, it doesn’t make sense comparing it to Qualcomm.

    It’s like you asking — (a fictional) Honda also makes tires, so what makes you think Good year won’t make cars?

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