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MediaTek targets Qualcomm with quad-core/modem SoC
Junko Yoshida
12/11/2012 9:01 PM EST
Why quad-core?
Quad-cores will become critical for premium to high-end smartphones, said Moynihan, as more users run processing-intensive gaming applications or opt for running apps concurrently. Under such a scenario, a user browses the Internet while using the smartphone as a music player, for example. “You need one core running the browser, another core running music and the rest running Android OS,” explained Moynihan. With quad-cores in place, these apps “won’t interfere with each other,” he added.
MediaTek’s MT6589 quad‐core chip supports 1080p 30fps/30fps low‐power video playback and recording, a 13-Megapixel camera, up to full high-definition (1920x1080) LCD displays, and enhanced picture processing for DTV‐grade image quality.
The MT6589 also supports MediaTek’s “Cool 3D” suite, which includes support for stereo 3-D cameras and displays, real‐time 2- ‐to‐3-D conversion and an optimal 3-D user interface. The suite helps create a stereo 3-D display with a custom 3-D interface, allowing handset vendors to differentiate their products, MediaTek claimed.
The chip also supports a technology called “Miracast,” allowing users to sling content from a smartphone to a TV.
New markets
MediaTek’s primary focus this year has been the mid- to entry-level smartphone market – the biggest and the fastest growing segment. While it hasn’t gained design wins for smartphones sold in the U.S., Mediatek thinks it can extend its footprint, including Europe.
Beyond local brands in China and India, MediaTek’s customer base is already expanding to tier-one ODMs in the rest of Asia and even in Western Europe. MediaTek’s brand partners include Lenovo, Motorola, Alcatel and Sharp.
Related stories:
Slideshow: Chinese smartphone menu
MediaTek to bring premier smartphone features to $150 - $200 handsets
Yoshida in NY: Too late to save Nokia?
Quad-cores will become critical for premium to high-end smartphones, said Moynihan, as more users run processing-intensive gaming applications or opt for running apps concurrently. Under such a scenario, a user browses the Internet while using the smartphone as a music player, for example. “You need one core running the browser, another core running music and the rest running Android OS,” explained Moynihan. With quad-cores in place, these apps “won’t interfere with each other,” he added.
MediaTek’s MT6589 quad‐core chip supports 1080p 30fps/30fps low‐power video playback and recording, a 13-Megapixel camera, up to full high-definition (1920x1080) LCD displays, and enhanced picture processing for DTV‐grade image quality.
The MT6589 also supports MediaTek’s “Cool 3D” suite, which includes support for stereo 3-D cameras and displays, real‐time 2- ‐to‐3-D conversion and an optimal 3-D user interface. The suite helps create a stereo 3-D display with a custom 3-D interface, allowing handset vendors to differentiate their products, MediaTek claimed.
The chip also supports a technology called “Miracast,” allowing users to sling content from a smartphone to a TV.
New markets
MediaTek’s primary focus this year has been the mid- to entry-level smartphone market – the biggest and the fastest growing segment. While it hasn’t gained design wins for smartphones sold in the U.S., Mediatek thinks it can extend its footprint, including Europe.
Beyond local brands in China and India, MediaTek’s customer base is already expanding to tier-one ODMs in the rest of Asia and even in Western Europe. MediaTek’s brand partners include Lenovo, Motorola, Alcatel and Sharp.
Related stories:
Slideshow: Chinese smartphone menu
MediaTek to bring premier smartphone features to $150 - $200 handsets
Yoshida in NY: Too late to save Nokia?
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GeeKv2
12/12/2012 5:22 AM EST
Its sad to see that when companies advertise their new chips, they just mention the 3G and 4G technologies present in them. I guess it wouldnt harm in mentioning 2G as well considering all the hard work that still goes on to get it to work with other standards. No modem is ever made without 2G in it and I think the engineers deserve some credit.
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ak-eleon
12/12/2012 8:20 AM EST
whats make MediaTek think that Qualcomm can't offer a chip-set that have a features like The MT6589 and also Qualcomm can add more top notch features in their Snapdragon Processor. With large R&D and innovation Qualcomm made, its not easy for MediaTek to steal the show from Qualcomm in premium and high-end smartphones market. The Snapdragon brand still the leader.
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junko.yoshida
12/12/2012 9:55 AM EST
Fair enough. However, MediaTek's new quad-core apps processor/modem SoC appears pretty much on par with that of Qualcomm's snapdragon.
The fact that MTK is rolling this out in the current quarter is a feat.
But of course, when it comes to LTE modem, Qualcomm is far more advanced.
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junko.yoshida
12/12/2012 12:01 PM EST
Linley Gwennap, principal analyst at the Linley Group, just pinged me.
He is absolutely right. The rival Qualcomm chip MTK is referring to in this article is Qualcomm’s second-generation quad-core processor with integrated modem – which is not on the market yet.
However, Qualcomm in September already announced MSM8225Q, a similar qua-coredevice but based on Cortex-A5, with production in 1Q13.
Qualcomm’s MSM8225Q has an integrated UMTS modem.
As Gwennap says, this put Qualcomm “not that far behind MediaTek in reaching the market.”
Also, Gwennap believes that MediaTek is “being a bit optimistic in positioning the MT6589 for high-end smartphones, as it won't match the CPU or graphics performance of true high-end processors such as APQ8064 or Exynos 5250, and it lacks LTE.”
Indeed, MTK does not have a plan for LTE until later in 2013, according to the company.
Gwennap, however, added, “But the [MTK’s] chip will be great for mainstream smartphones, and it is a big step up for MediaTek.”
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tb1
12/13/2012 1:37 PM EST
In the very long term, I think most US cell phone companies plan on migrating 100% to LTE. In other words, they will use VoLTE, and GSM and CDMA will go away.
So I certainly hope MTK has a plan for LTE if they want to be part of the US market.
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Eng111
12/15/2012 11:17 PM EST
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