Industry Rallies Around Qualcomm's Snapdragon Platform to Enable Mobile Computing Devices

Download as PDF

- Market Segment Forecasted to Grow at CAGR of Over 80% -

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) today announced that the Company's Snapdragon(TM) platform continues to gain industry traction with more than 30 device designs in development using Snapdragon chipsets. More than 15 leading device manufacturers are looking to Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform to enable mobile computing devices, which blend the best of the Smartphone and laptop computing categories to finally deliver on the promise of mobile Internet. According to independent industry research, this market segment is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 80% over the next several years. The first Snapdragon devices are expected to be launched by customers in the first half of next year.

Qualcomm's customers for Snapdragon include leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs), such as Acer, ASUS International, C-motech, Compal, Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), High Tech Computer (HTC) Corporation, Inventec, LG Electronics, Quanta Computer Incorporated, Samsung, Toshiba Corporation and Wistron Corporation.

"The mobile market continues to evolve and grow and Acer strives to successfully meet users' changing needs for greater functionality and real-time access to information," said Jim Wong, president of IT Products Global Operations for Acer. "We see great promise for products such as Snapdragon and are committed to working with Qualcomm toward our common goal of enabling a truly mobile computing experience."

"The mobile Internet is coming of age, due in no small part to the industry's recognition that the availability of devices that are easy to use and always connected is critical to consumer adoption," said Hyun Park, Vice President of the New Business Development Team at LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Platforms such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon addressed these needs early on and so will be crucial to the growth of this market, and we are eager to continue our long-standing relationship to even better address this burgeoning market segment."

Mr. Kosei Okamoto, Corporate Vice President / CEO and President of Mobile Communications Company, Toshiba Corporation, said "We see the mobile computing space evolving as users increasingly demand easy-to-use, instant communications capabilities and transparent access to real-time information. Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform provides an ideal solution to power a brand new category of devices that combine the best of computing and wireless to fundamentally change how we think of mobile communications. We have a plan to develop and provide high performance and innovative devices using Qualcomm's Snapdragon."

"Qualcomm introduced Snapdragon to encourage the industry to think outside the box and design devices that fill the niche between the portable communications capabilities of mobile handsets and the computing capabilities of laptops," said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of marketing and product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "Many of the customers we are now working with are new to Qualcomm and are looking to Snapdragon to help them succeed in the mobile space."

While Snapdragon-powered devices can have a wide range of form-factors, they will all benefit from the best features of mobile handsets and laptop computers. The platform will support a wide set of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows Mobile, Android, and a number of Linux-based operating systems. Snapdragon solutions deliver a superior combination of power-efficient computing capabilities, immersive multimedia, comprehensive connectivity and an "always on, always awake and always connected" experience. The platform's exceptionally low-power operation enables computing devices to no longer require a heat sink or fan while enabling all-day battery life, allowing device manufacturers to design slimmer devices that last longer than ever before.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform includes chipsets that feature a custom gigahertz microprocessor core paired with the Company's sixth-generation DSP core running at 600 MHz dedicated to applications processing for unsurpassed mobile computing capabilities. Other features of the Snapdragon platform include integrated cellular broadband as well as support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile TV; high definition video recording and playback; up to WXGA resolution (1280 x 768); sophisticated positioning with Assisted-GPS; hardware-accelerated 3D graphics; and industry-leading integration to enable smaller, sleeker devices.

Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2008 FORTUNE 500 company. For more information, please visit www.qualcomm.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA and WCDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA and WCDMA are deployed, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2008, and most recent Form 10-Q.

Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This press release may reference 1X EVDO parts whose manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, or importation into the United States is limited or prohibited by certain injunctions against QUALCOMM. The reference to such 1X EVDO parts in this press release is not an offer to sell such parts and shall not be misconstrued as assistance in the making, using, selling, offering to sell or importation of such parts in or into the United States. Any device utilizing such 1X EVDO parts that are intended for sale to wireless carriers (other than Verizon) in United States markets must also utilize Qualcomm's hybrid mode alternative solution.

     Qualcomm Contacts:
     Kira Golin, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies
     Phone:   1-858-651-1554
     Email:  qctpublicrelations@qualcomm.com

     Emily Kilpatrick, Corporate Communications
     Phone:   1-858-845-5959
     Email:  corpcomm@qualcomm.com

     John Gilbert, Investor Relations
     Phone:  1-858-658-4813
     Email:  ir@qualcomm.com

SOURCE Qualcomm Incorporated

Released November 12, 2008