Qualcomm Invests in Opticals to Enhance Smartphone Camera Quality
Qualcomm Inc. has announced an investment in a Dutch company, Anteryon, which specializes in manufacturing optical components, including lenses for phone cameras. As a result, Qualcomm will utilize Anteryon's WaferOptics technology to enhance the quality of its dual-core Snapdragon processor, enabling it to support 1080p video encoding and decoding. This move positions Qualcomm to compete directly with Intel Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc. in the rapidly growing smartphone market.
Key Takeaways:
- Qualcomm Inc. is investing in Anteryon, a Dutch company that produces optical components, including lenses for phone cameras.
- The investment will be used to enhance the quality of Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon processor, enabling it to support 1080p video encoding and decoding.
- Anteryon's WaferOptics technology will be utilized to reduce the cost of mobile cameras, making handsets more competitive in the market.
- Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon processor will compete directly with Intel Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc. in the smartphone market.
- Qualcomm's current single-core version of the chip is popular among device manufacturers, including Google Inc. and Dell Inc.
Statistics:
- The global camera phone market is projected to reach over 1 billion units.
- Qualcomm's dual-core Snapdragon processor will support 1080p video encoding and decoding.
- Anteryon's WaferOptics technology reduces the cost of mobile cameras.
- Qualcomm's single-core Snapdragon processor is found in several mobile devices, including Google's Nexus One and Dell's Streak.
Sources:
- Zacks.com Analyst Blog
- Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM)
- Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC)
- Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN)
- Google Inc (Nasdaq: GOOG)
- Dell Inc (Nasdaq: DELL)