Qualcomm Inc. announced a collaboration with Microsoft to enable Qualcomm’s Snapdragon next-generation family of mobile processors to power the first generation of upcoming Windows 8-based PCs. In addition, Qualcomm’s Gobi mobile Internet connectivity solutions will provide Windows 8-based PCs with wireless 3G/4G connectivity to deliver an always-connected experience.
“It is a priority for Qualcomm to work with the developer community to optimize the Snapdragon and Gobi-powered platform for Windows 8 to provide an unparalleled mobile user experience,” says Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management, computing and consumer products at Qualcomm.
The next generation of Snapdragon processors is a family of all-in-one chipsets with the option for integrated multimode 3G/4G, differing numbers of CPU cores and the ability to support a range of device types. Qualcomm’s Gobi mobile Internet connectivity solution is a pre-certified multi-mode 3G/4G LTE module designed to make it easy for OEMs to certify the connectivity of any Windows 8-based PC. By integrating a Gobi-based module into Windows 8-based PCs, Qualcomm says it will provide a fast easy-to-use global connectivity solution for an untethered, productive user experience.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon family of mobile processors also delivers dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM radio connectivity through Qualcomm Atheros’ WCN3660 combo chip. The WCN3660 is an integrated solution optimized to work with a broad range of mobile operating systems and will be the first in a series of 802.11n wireless LAN solutions to fully support Windows 8.
“Collaborating with Qualcomm to deliver Windows 8-based PCs will help deliver a high-performance and differentiated experience for customers,” says Mike Angiulo, corporate vice president of Windows planning, hardware and PC ecosystem for Microsoft. “Working closely with Qualcomm allows us to maximize performance while maintaining a high level of energy efficiency.”
