Qualcomm announces new quad-core Snapdragon 400

Designed for high-volume units, the Snapdragon 400 gets a quad-core counterpart

Qualcomm has had a busy day, and they recently announced the new additions to the Snapdragon 400 line. We've seen the Snapdragon 400 used in the HTC First and were impressed with it's mix of performance and price, so today's news should get everyone's attention.

The new 8926 quad-core variants will not only deliver even more processing power. The chips also house support for LTE and HSPA+42 networks, TD-SCDMA support for the Chinese market and dual-SIM configurations with dual standby and dual active functions. This is in addition to Miracast wireless connectivity, Qualcomm's VIVE 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth, FM, NFC and QuickCharge. The 8926 has been certified as compatible with both Android and Windows Phone 8 platforms.

Expect to see a new reference device from Qualcomm later this year, and the chip itself should be available in bulk for manufacturers by the end of 2013. The full press release is after the break.

Qualcomm Integrates Multimode 3G/4G LTE into Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Processors with Quad-Core CPUs for High-Volume Smartphones in Emerging Regions

— Newest Addition to Snapdragon 400 Tier and Reference Design Counterpart Broadens Portfolio of Multimode 3G/4G LTE Processors with Premium Multimedia and Connectivity —

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – June 04, 2013 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., is expanding the offering of its Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 400 processors with the introduction of its newest processor, featuring quad-core CPUs with integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE. This makes the Snapdragon 400 tier the first to offer multimode 3G/4G LTE on processors with both dual-and quad-core CPUs for high-volume smartphones. In addition to multimode 3G/4G LTE, the processor integrates key modem features that are important to China and other emerging regions, including TD-SCDMA, HSPA+ (up to 42Mbps), and multi-SIM capabilities. The new Snapdragon 400 processor (8926), along with its Qualcomm Reference Design counterpart, will be available in late 2013 and will deliver the optimal balance of multimedia features, modem technologies and performance to high-volume smartphones.

“By offering a multimode 3G/4G LTE variant to Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 tier of processors with quad-core CPUs, we are ensuring that emerging regions are equipped and prepared for the imminent transition to multimode 3G/4G LTE, in addition to being equipped for every major 2G and 3G technology,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president and co-president of mobile and computing products, Qualcomm Technologies. “Snapdragon 400 processors provide customers with a wide range of innovative smartphones for both the high-volume and mid-tier segments.”

Building on Qualcomm Technologies’ previous Snapdragon processors, the newest Snapdragon 400 processor will continue to support multi-SIM capabilities of Dual SIM, Dual Standby and Dual SIM, Dual Active and is optimized to deliver a smooth, graphics-rich gaming experience and provides Miracast™ support for wireless streaming of multimedia content. The platform also supports a rich set of wireless connectivity functionality including integrated Qualcomm VIVE™ 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and NFC. It also offers a differentiated feature set that includes support for the latest Android and Windows Phone 8 software. In addition, it includes the QuickCharge 1.0 feature charges devices up to 40 percent faster than conventional charging methods.

Qualcomm Technologies will also be releasing a Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) version of the Snapdragon 400 processor with integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE. The QRD program provides device manufacturers with comprehensive handset development platforms and access to third-party providers of tested and verified hardware and software components. Under the QRD program, customers can rapidly deliver differentiated smartphones to budget-conscious consumers. There have been more than 200 public QRD-based product launches to date in collaboration with more than 40 OEMs, and there are currently more than 100 designs in progress.

About Qualcomm Incorporated

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.