It seems like everybody and their uncle has an apps processor / LTE modem bundle. It's gonna be a quick race to the "good enough performance" finish line. Mobille chipsets are fast becoming a commodity item.
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There are a few sets of companies which have made chip design cheaper as well as easier. ARM has allowed virtually any company to make processor. IP providers are more standard now with TSMC/ARM and others providing standard libraries to everyone. EDA companies have automated the chip design flow.
Intel has most of the things as proprietary : libraries, processor instruction set(besides AMD) and CAD tools. this is something which they have established during the era of the PC dominance....now all the other companies don't have this luxury. It is like IOs vs Android. Andriod manufacturers are having a tough time in differentiating......and that's why there is reduction in profits........ it is truly commoditized.
On top of it Asian manufacturers have made the whole thing very cheap due to cheap labor compared to US.
classes?! how noble. I want to enroll at Qualcomm University.
@Anonymous82837-
Intel has a proprietary model in the implementation of its chips and the distribution of its technology. So they keep the secret sauce, secret. Mobile apps processors are all based on technology from ARM with some custom tweaks here and there. Furthermore Qualcomm licenses out its source code and holds classes on mobile technology further educating other companies.
How is it that no one was able to successfully challenge Intel in the PC market over the years? The mobile market has seen the leadership change hands every 3-4 years in a merry-go-round fashion
Increasing competition means decreasing market share for QC. Enhanced features and performance will not help to sell more chips. Only lower price will. We have yet to see what is the consequence of licensing fee based on 65% unit price.