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peter.clarke
Frank Eory
How is an "entry-level smartphone" distinguished from what is today called a ...
MediaTek launches platform for low-end Android phones
Peter Clarke
2/14/2012 7:42 AM EST
LONDON – Fabless chip company MediaTek Inc. (Hsinchu, Taiwan) has announced the availability of a hardware and software platform for the creation of mid- and entry-level Android smartphones.
The MT6575 includes a Cortex-A9 processor licensed from ARM Holdings plc capable of running at 1-GHz clock frequency, a 3G/HSPA modem and runs the Ice-Cream Sandwich Android v4.0 release. MediaTek did not reveal the origins of the 3G/HSPA modem but said it has been qualified at major 3G operators world-wide.
For mid-range smartphones, the MT6575 platform supports 720p high-definition video playback and recording with an 8-megapixel camera and qHD (960 by 540) high-resolution displays via a PowerVR SGX Series5 graphics processing unit from Imagination Technologies Group plc.
The MT6575 platform also supports entry-level smartphones with smaller display sizes, lower resolution, less memory and reduced multimedia requirements.
The MT6575, delivered in 40-nm CMOS technology, builds on the company's second generation MT6573 platform.
MediaTek is already supplying customers with chips and the first smartphone models based on the platform are expected to become available in 1Q12.
Related links and articles:
Analyst: Apple took 80% of handset profits in Q4
MediaTek president sees Android as key to China TVs
MediaTek feels the heat, seeks a comeback
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LarryM99
2/14/2012 3:46 PM EST
Smartphone commodization marches forward. The functionality of these devices as data terminals is rapidly becoming more important than their use as a telephone, potentially even at the low end. This meshes with the fact that in many countries a cell phone is the primary means of accessing the Internet. I'd be curious to hear what kind of BOM cost they are talking overall for these devices. Any ideas?
Larry M.
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elctrnx_lyf
2/15/2012 1:40 AM EST
Mediatek is very successful to actually make the cheaper and performing designs for the 2G smartphones. Now the Android support along which has 3G support will definitely a big success.
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Frank Eory
2/15/2012 1:00 PM EST
How is an "entry-level smartphone" distinguished from what is today called a "feature phone"? It seems to me that the lines of distinction are blurring -- the one called "smartphone" runs Android 4.0, while the one called "feature phone" runs a simpler OS like Brew or Symbian.
Small screen, limited multi-media, less memory, etc. Does the market really need this to run Ice Cream Sandwich?
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peter.clarke
2/15/2012 1:12 PM EST
I am not sure if there is a strict definition.
Your OS call is not bad but i think it is also to do with display hardware, graphics.
SO maybe a feature phone doesnt' have touch-screen, and menus based on it, but a low-end smartphone does?
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