Intel in 2011 achieved its highest annual market share in more than 10 years, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. The chipmaker’s market share increased 2.5 points to 15.6% from 13.1% in 2010. In the same year, the company’s revenue jumped 20.6%, outpacing nearly every other semiconductor supplier in the top-20 with the exception of Qualcomm. The jump represents the highest share Intel has attained since 2001, when the company reached a 14.9% market share. “Intel in 2011 captured the headlines with its major surge in growth,” said Dale Ford, head of electronics and semiconductor research for IHS. “The company’s rise was spurred by soaring demand for its PC-oriented microprocessors, and for its NAND flash memory used in consumer and wireless products. Intel’s revenue also was boosted by its acquisition of Infineon’s wireless business unit. The company’s strong rise helped it to stave off the rising challenge mounted by No. 2 semiconductor supplier Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., which had been whittling away at Intel’s lead in recent years.”

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Well-known gadget repair company iFixit made its way to Australia on Thursday in order to be among the first to procure a new Apple iPad. Following a midnight launch at one Australian retailer, iFixit has managed to obtain the highly sought-after tablet and is already in the process of performing one of its famous teardowns. Gadget fans and investors alike will be watching closely as the firm reveals the manufacturers behind many of the key components found within the new tablet, and we’ll update this post as details emerge.

UPDATE: iFixit believes that the LCD panel in the iPad it is currently disassembling was manufactured by Samsung. Earlier reports stated that Samsung is the sole manufacturer of Apple’s new 9.7-inch Retina Displays, while a subsequent report claimed LG Display is also supplying panels for the new iPad. IFixit also states that the new iPad includes a 11,560 mAh battery.

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Nokia and Microsoft plan to continue their mobile partnership by entering into the tablet race, DigiTimes reported on Monday. According to the publication, Nokia will release a 10-inch Windows 8-powered tablet with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chip in the fourth quarter of 2012. “Nokia is expected to outsource production of the 10-inch tablets to Compal Electronics with the first batch of shipments to top 200,000 units,” noted the site’s sources. A Nokia spokesperson previously denied the Finnish vendor’s intentions to enter the tablet market. “We haven’t announced any plans anywhere in the world at this point regarding a potential tablet strategy,” the company representative said.

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Microsoft is testing a Windows Phone 8 handset with a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8960 chipset for Sprint’s network, The Verge reported on Wednesday. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor has posted impressive performance when powering Android devices, beating out Samsung’s Galaxy S II (Exynos) and Motorola’s Droid 4 (TI OMAP) by a wide margin in many tests. Microsoft hopes the chip will bring similar performance to the Windows Phone platform. Sprint has reportedly shared its LTE specifications with Nokia and may not introduce any further Windows Phone devices until Windows Phone 8 is launched later this year, The Verge claims.

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During NVIDIA’s earnings call on Wednesday, CEO Jen-Hsun Huang told investors that quad-core Tegra 3 smartphones would ship this quarter. “This quarter we are expecting to ship Tegra 3 based superphones,” Huang said. “At Mobile World Congress is when we expect to announce these devices, and we expect to announce and ship them this quarter.” The company also announced that its 3G/4G LTE system on a chip will be coming to devices sometime this year. The current generation of LTE phones and tablets use radio chips that are separate from the processor, however numerous companies are looking to integrate LTE into a single chipset. ”We will have shipping modems this year, hopefully sooner than later,” Huang said. NVIDIA looks to compete with Qualcomm, which plans to soon release an integrated 4G LTE Snapdragon chipset.

[Via The Verge]

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Verizon, AT&T and any other LTE providers currently rely on 3G networks to carry voice phone calls. In the future, carriers hope to use voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) technology, and Qualcomm recently reached an important milestone on the road to making VoLTE a reality. Qualcomm announced on Thursday that the company had successfully completed the “first voice call handover from an LTE mobile network to a WCDMA network using Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC).” The company, while working with Ericsson, used its own MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 chipset to power the test hardware, and the technology will be demonstrated live at this month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Read on for Qualcomm’s press release.

Qualcomm Chipset Powers First Successful VoIP-over-LTE Call with Single Radio Voice Call Continuity Successful Completion of a Voice Call Handover from LTE to WCDMA Network Marks Key Milestone in Development of VoLTE

SAN DIEGO – February 02, 2012 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that the Company, working with Ericsson, has successfully completed the first voice call handover from an LTE mobile network to a WCDMA network using Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC). An important technology required for voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) support, SRVCC is a 3GPP specified feature that enables continuity of service by seamlessly switching to a WCDMA network when a consumer on a VoLTE call leaves the LTE network’s coverage area. This milestone occurred on December 23, 2011 with an Ericsson network using a handset which incorporated Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 MSM8960 3G/LTE multimode processor. A demonstration will be available at Qualcomm’s booth at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 27 – March 1, 2012.

“As LTE networks are deployed alongside 3G networks, the ability for multimode 3G/LTE mobile devices to connect to different network technologies will be an important part of providing the best possible mobile voice and data experience to consumers,” said Cristiano Amon, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm. “Qualcomm is committed to the successful deployment of LTE networks worldwide in conjunction with 3G networks, and the milestone we’ve achieved with Ericsson is another step towards making VoLTE technology a commercial reality.”

SRVCC is the next logical step in the 4G LTE voice roadmap following the commercial launch of circuit-switched fallback technology (CSFB) on smartphones in 2011. CSFB allows a single radio in the handset to dynamically switch from an LTE data connection to a 3G connection when the user needs to make or receive a call. Similarly, SRVCC support enables a single radio in the handset to execute a seamless handover of a voice call from an LTE network to a 3G network. Furthermore, SRVCC and CSFB allow both LTE and 3G network connections to be supported on a single chip, eliminating the need for smartphones to use separate LTE and 3G radios and modems. This allows OEMs to design handsets with lower power consumption and component costs and a smaller size. Given that 3G networks will continue to be deployed in conjunction with LTE networks for quite some time, SRVCC and CSFB are essential to provide a seamless voice experience to customers using LTE multimode handsets once VoLTE is commercially deployed. Qualcomm is committed to ensuring the best voice performance to users in LTE networks through industry-leading CSFB and SRVCC technologies.

Qualcomm on Wednesday reported record earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The company took in $4.68 billion in revenue, up 40% year-over-year and 14% sequentially, beating Wall Street’s estimate of $4.58 million. Qualcomm’s net income of $1.4 billion was up 20% year-over-year and 25% over the fourth quarter. The firm also managed earnings of $0.97 per share, up 18% year-over-year and ahead of the Street’s EPS estimate of $0.90. Qualcomm boosted guidance for the full year, saying it expects to report between $18.7 billion and $19.7 billion in revenue for 2012. It had previously said revenue would likely fall between $18 billion and $19 billion. “I am pleased to report another record quarter with revenues, earnings and MSM shipments reaching all-time highs, driven by our industry-leading chipset portfolio and the continued strong demand for smartphones around the world,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. “We are raising our revenue and earnings guidance as our broad licensing partnerships and extensive chipset roadmap, led by our integrated Snapdragon processors, position us well for strong growth in fiscal 2012. We continue to invest in innovative wireless technologies, products and services, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead as 3G and 4G continue to expand across new device types and geographies.”

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Apple’s next-generation iPhone will be slimmer than its current iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S models according to a new report, and it may feature a quad-mode chipset that will work across all 3G and 4G LTE networks. In a note to clients on Friday, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty wrote that Apple’s business will continue to grow despite slowing demand high-end smartphone market. Mirroring a small piece of countless reports, Huberty says Apple’s next-generation “iPhone 5″ will feature a new slimmer case. The iPhone 5 will also feature a new quad-mode chip from Qualcomm that could allow it to operate on all 3G and 4G LTE networks, Huberty wrote. Finally, the analyst says Apple will launch the next-generation iPad 3 tablet some time in the first half, at which time it will lower its price on the current iPad 2 tablet to attract a broader range of customers. BGR exclusively reported last month that Apple is preparing to launch a completely redesigned iPhone this fall with an aluminum case and a rubber or plastic bezel that will cover a new wrap-around antenna.

Qualcomm took the stage at the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday to highlight the company’s Snapdragon processor line. “Our latest S4 series Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets will set the bar higher,” said Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs. The S4 processor will be coming to TVs, notebooks, and smartphones later this year. Over 20 manufacturers have teamed up with Qualcomm, with over 70 device designs already in the pipeline. Lastly, Windows 8 will support both ARM and Snapdragon chipsets, with Qaulcomm working with Microsoft to deliver S4 processors featuring LTE connectivity. Read on for Qualcomm’s press release.

Qualcomm Expands Snapdragon Family with Introduction of Processors for Smart TVs and Digital Media Adapters

New Snapdragon Processors to Power Next Wave of Enhanced Smart TV and Set-Top Box Experiences

LAS VEGAS – January 10, 2012 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that the Company’s Snapdragon™ processors are powering smart TVs at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Snapdragon smart TV experience will bring full web browsing capabilities to television, including integrated best-in-class Wi-Fi™ connectivity, high performance graphics and the latest Android apps and console-quality gaming experiences. Demonstrations of the Snapdragon smart TV experience will be held during the opening keynote address of Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, on January 10 at 8:30 a.m. PST at The Venetian. Jacobs’ keynote will be part of the Technology and Evolving Countries (TEC) Program, focused on the role mobile technology plays in global innovation and economic growth in consumer electronics.

Snapdragon processors will power the next wave of enhanced smart TV experiences – including leading audio/video capabilities, pure web browsing and more robust apps – delivering on Qualcomm’s commitment of keeping consumers continuously connected to their favorite devices, content and apps. The Snapdragon S4 MPQ8064 processor features a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU-based on Qualcomm’s Krait micro-architecture-Adreno™ 320 graphics and advanced audio/video capabilities, delivering mobile users the highest performing mobile experience while consuming less power.

The first Snapdragon powered smart TV, which is being launched by Lenovo, combines Qualcomm’s mobile expertise and Lenovo’s computing/CE expertise to enable the world’s first smart TV running on the Android 4.0 operating system. Qualcomm’s Wi-Fi connectivity provides seamless delivery of real-time Internet video, multi-player online gaming and local content to the television and other screens in the home. Thousands of apps from Android Market and Lenovo Store, including console games, are ready for access with a simple touch. With full Internet access, consumers can access their favorite songs and videos, share files between the TV and their tablet, smartphone or PC and control the TV via tablet or smart phone.

“Consumers demand a seamless experience across all screens, including smartphones, tablets, PCs and televisions,” said Raj Talluri, vice president of product management for Qualcomm. “Having Snapdragon processors power smart TVs and digital media adapters is a natural extension of our leadership in mobile and computing technologies into the connected home.”

“Lenovo’s newly announced K91 Smart TV is a milestone for the connected home and digital technology,” said Xiong Wen, general manager and executive director, Smart TV, Lenovo. “It’s the first Smart TV in the world to run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, as well as the first to run on Android 4.0 for full access to the Android marketplace. Lenovo is taking the digital home to new levels and making consuming content and connecting via videoconferencing, social media and more, easier than ever.”

Currently, there are more than 300 Snapdragon-based devices commercially available and more than 350 in development. The S4 line is currently being integrated into more than 70 devices from 20 leading OEMs. Experience the Snapdragon powered Smart TV and test-drive the latest Snapdragon-powered devices by visiting Qualcomm’s CES booth at South Hall 3, Upper Level #30313, January 10-13 in Las Vegas or visit www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon for more information.

Qualcomm Works with Microsoft to Deliver Snapdragon S4 Processors with LTE Connectivity for Windows 8

- 2012 CES Marks First AT&T LTE Demonstration of Windows 8 Powered by Snapdragon S4 Processors -

LAS VEGAS and SAN DIEGO – January 10, 2012 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced at the 2012 International CES show that it is collaborating with Microsoft Corp. to demonstrate pre-release Windows 8 on Snapdragon™ S4 processors with LTE connectivity support. Demonstrated on the AT&T 4G LTE network for the first time, Windows 8 powered by Snapdragon with LTE and 3G/4G wireless support enables the connected standby experience with lower power consumption recently demonstrated by Microsoft, and provides Windows 8-based PCs including tablets, convertibles and notebooks with wireless broadband speeds and advanced connectivity solutions to help enable fast, productive experiences for users worldwide. Demonstrations of pre-release Windows 8 on the Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 reference hardware tablet with LTE were held during Dr. Paul E. Jacobs’ opening keynote address earlier today. Jacobs’ keynote was part of the Technology and Evolving Countries (TEC) Program, focused on the role mobile technology plays in global innovation and economic growth in consumer electronics.

“Qualcomm is excited to be working with Microsoft to showcase the world’s first demonstration of Windows 8 powered by our Snapdragon platform with LTE connectivity on the AT&T 4G LTE network,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of computing and consumer products at Qualcomm.”Our Snapdragon S4 processors’ LTE network support and comprehensive software and hardware integration help deliver greater flexibility and connectivity options to Microsoft and device manufacturers. PC – including tablets, convertibles and notebooks – and other device makers alike continue to choose Qualcomm processors for the best combination of processing performance, efficient power usage and wireless connectivity on a single platform.”

By integrating LTE, Qualcomm provides a superior connectivity solution that is easy to use and allows users to take advantage of next-generation networks and stay connected almost anywhere they go. Snapdragon-enabled Windows 8 PCs, including tablets, convertibles and notebooks, will also be enhanced by Qualcomm’s mobile Internet connectivity platform, Gobi™, which provides advanced 3G/4G connectivity and integrated LTE world mode support. Qualcomm’s Gobi 4000 platform allows device manufacturers to offer both LTE/HSPA+ and LTE/EV-DO designs to meet the growing demand for embedded 3G/4G connectivity in mobile devices worldwide.

As one of the largest providers of wireless chipset and software technology in the industry, Qualcomm has one of the most diverse chipset and software product portfolios, spanning multiple device classes. Qualcomm’s broad product portfolio, including Snapdragon processors and Gobi mobile Internet connectivity solutions, supports Windows 8. Qualcomm is one of the only silicon providers to date positioned to support both Windows smartphones and PCs.

“Qualcomm’s technologies help bring high-performance, power-efficient solutions to consumers,” said Aidan Marcuss, senior director of Windows Core Marketing & Ecosystem, Microsoft. “In many cases today’s consumers and businesses not only desire but require always- on, always-connected computing devices. Qualcomm and Microsoft are committed to our continued collaboration to bring innovative, top-performing devices to consumers around the world.”

“Today’s customer demands a more powerful and faster network connection which plays to Qualcomm’s key technology strengths for designing leading-edge chipsets,” said Michael Stice, vice president of computing devices, emerging devices, AT&T. “We are working with Qualcomm to enable the next generation of mobile PCs and tablets enhanced by our 3G and LTE networks.”

Attendees can see pre-release devices running Windows 8 powered by Snapdragon S4 processors, along with the newest innovations, at the Qualcomm exhibit at the 2012 International CES, located in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, Upper Level #30313. For more information on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors visit www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave his last CES keynote on Monday night and while it did mark the end of an era, things are just starting to heat up here in Las Vegas. We’ve got a big day in store that will be packed full of hands-on looks at all of the great devices unveiled during this year’s show, but Qualcomm is kicking things off on Tuesday with the opening keynote for day 1. Qualcomm subsidiary Qualcomm Atheros made several announcements Tuesday morning which included the unveiling of the Skifta Media Shifting Platform, a new wireless content streaming solution, and we’ll likely hear more about them during the keynote. What else might Qualcomm have in store for us? The keynote kicks off at 11:30 a.m. Eastern / 8:30 a.m. Pacific, so hit the break for our live coverage.

11:26AM:We should be getting started in just a few minutes. It looks like the last of the crowd is settling in.

11:31AM:We're told the keynote will begin momentarily.

11:35AM:The lights are dimming, which means this awful music should be ending shortly.

11:37AM:President and CEO of the CEA Gary Shapiro is taking the stage now.

11:39AM:He's talking about "the cause of innovation" and the "health of the global economy."

11:40AM:Shapiro is discussing how innovation helps create jobs and how he has traveled the world discussing innovation. "Every nation wants to be innovative, global leaders share the same desire they want to grow their economies and they want to improve the lives of their citizens."

11:41AM:Twitter helped power the Arab Spring. Broadband and mobile devices enabled global support for the spread of democracy in the middle east.

11:42AM:We're going over all that happened in 2011. Pandora and Spotify showing how music can be monetized, Steve Jobs's passing and more.

11:43AM:"2012 will be marked as a turning point in how innovation is used to solve problems around the world."

11:45AM:Our badge holders are made from recycled materials from last years show. Neat.

11:47AM:Shapiro is basically going over all of the areas of the show floor, from green products such as electric cars to health products and more. Qualcomm's CEO should take the stage shortly.

11:50AM:He's briefly touching on IPv4 moving to IPv6 and spectrum shortage and he hopes we find solutions so that no one is left behind.

11:52AM:"It's your internet and it's your government." Lots of clapping about Shapiro's suggestion that we sign the Declaration of Innovation petition.

11:53AM:"Innovation is CES and it is the pulse of our show."

11:54AM:We're touching on Qualcomm now so we assume CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs should be taking the stage soon.

11:56AM:Paul's passion helped create one of the world's first smartphones. Qualcomm then created an entire ecosystem that allowed for the launch of the world's first app store.

11:57AM:Alright he should be taking the stage and moment now there's a weird crowd on the stage now putting on a bit of a tron-like performance.

11:57AM:Kind of creeped out

11:59AM:Too early in the morning for this kind of techno blasting

11:59AM:Qualcomm chairman and CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs is taking the stage now.

12:01PM:Qualcomm's been in the consumer electronics business for more than 25 years creating mobile tech for phones, tablets, eReaders and more.

12:02PM:"Our mission is to push the boundaries of what's possible in mobile. We invested more than $3 billion in innovation during the past few years and those investments helped drive the 3G revolution. Today, our investments are laying the groundwork for the next generation 4G networks. We've shipped more than 7 billion chipsets worldwide, that makes us the #1 provider of silicon for wireless."

12:03PM:"There are more than 6 billion wireless connections worldwide."

12:03PM:Unlike most speakers, Shapiro is cool with us playing with our phones in the audience.

12:04PM:1.2 billion people access news on their mobile devices, that's 3x the circulation of all newspapers.

12:04PM:In 2011 mobile revenues for the wireless industry reached approximately $1.3 trillion, almost 2% of global GDP.

12:05PM:"the internet changed the world, but mobile is having an even greater impact."

12:05PM:"Modern life is becoming mobile-centric and no where is this more relevant than in emerging countries."

12:05PM:Emerging markets are expected to contribute over 50% of global GDP by 2015. They will be one of the biggest drivers of growth in the years ahead.

12:06PM:2/3 of internet users in emerging markets access the web using their mobile phones. In India, mobile broadband connections surpassed fixed connections. In Indonesia Internet cafes are seeing a hit to their business because their customers are accessing the internet on their mobile devices instead.

12:07PM:More than 1.4 billion new 3G connections are expected in the emerging regions over the next four years.

12:08PM:We're seeing a quick clip of people using their mobile devices around the world. It's kind of inspiring.

12:11PM:Qualcomm.com/CES has the video clip if any of you out there want to watch it.

12:13PM:Jacobs is talking about how Qualcomm works with emerging markets to help people launch their own businesses. Qualcomm provides these people with a package, including a phone, to help them get started. The penetration of mobile phones has increased so much since the start of the project that Qualcomm now has to add data connections. There are over 9000 entrepreneurs now serving more than 1 million customers. More than 47% who stay in the program after 4 months have doubled their income. 100% are profitable and more than 80% are owned by women.

12:16PM:In emerging countries mobile is huge for helping people escape property. Qualcomm Snapdragon is the most advanced and first all-in-one processor on the market. It includes graphics, processing, audio, GPS, and wireless 3G/4G tech all on one chip.

12:16PM:Before Snapdragon devices needed to have multiple chips to have all of those features.

12:17PM:Snapdragon processors now power 300 devices worldwide and 350 more are in development. That includes high-end and low-end products. "Our goal is to enable better phones for every market for the best price possible. We're proud to support the broadest range of mobile operating systems in the industry."

12:17PM:Snapdragon is now creating a lot of buss in the mobile gaming sector and we're working with the top gaming companies. We launched an app called Game Command (like TegraZone) and it offers games that are optimized for Snapdragon.

12:19PM:A mixed martial artist is on stage now to help promote gaming on Snapdragon. CES attendees can visit the Qualcomm booth to try to challenge gamers in a new title called Fight Game Heroes.

12:20PM:In addition to gaming, Qualcomm is working with Android partners on other fronts, including creating more affordable devices in emerging countries. Qualcomm is providing a blueprint for those manufacturers so they can make the phones cheaper, but still also help them stand out against other devices. By 2015 half of all smartphones will ship to emerging countries.

12:21PM:Qualcomm is playing a leadership role in Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system. Right now every single Windows Phone device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop is now taking the stage.

12:22PM:"Over the last year we have been working in close partnership with Qualcomm," Elop said. "One element of our strategy supports opportunities and growth in emerging markets. The first key pillar in our strategy is a focus on increasing our lower-priced mobile business."

12:22PM:"We believe for many people, their mobile phone will be their first experience with the internet."

12:23PM:Nokia is helping entrepreneurs around the world with its handsets and it believes it can push it further with Qualcomm's Snapdragon technology. "Nokia is a gateway to the world."

12:24PM:"Windows Phone offered an alternative to patterns that are all too common in other ecosystems. In October we introduced the Lumia 710 and Lumia 800, the first "real" Windows Phones. Nokia Lumia has opened the Windows Phone gateway to the world."

12:25PM:"Yesterday, at CES, we announced our intentions to spread the Lumia brand to North America." It will launch the Nokia Lumia 900 n AT&T and the 710 on T-Mobile. The 800 and 710 will also be available on Telus and Rogers in Canada.

12:26PM:Elop is covering some of the specs of the Lumia 900 now, which we've already covered so be sure to read more about it on the homepage! We'll also be bringing you a hands on in just a few hours once the show floor opens.

12:26PM:"Nokia understands developed markets. Nokia also understands emerging markets. With Qualcomm we will address the unique needs of partners around the world."

12:27PM:"Our latest S4 series Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets will set the bar higher" - Paul Jacobs

12:28PM:"Snapdragon S4 will power your TV, your ultra compact notebook," as well as smartphones. The devices based on S4 Snapdragon processors will be on the market early this year. There are more than 20 manufacturers on board and 70 device designs already in the pipeline. Windows 8 will also support ARM and Snapdragon, and Qualcomm sees that as a great opportunity to "flex its muscles."

12:29PM:"Windows 8 is Windows reimagined and together with the S4 processor it's going to enable instant-turn on PCs... metro style apps will be kept up-to-date all the time, and it will do that while conserving battery life. That is something that we in the mobile industry know a lot about."

12:30PM:"Our leadership with Snapdragon is enabling us to work with PC manufacturers to deliver the lightest and thinnest PCs that are always on. Today, for the first time ever, you're going to see Windows 8 running on Snapdragon S4 and running on an AT&T 4G LTE network." Sweet we're pumped to see that.

12:31PM:We're seeing a brief demo of a Windows 8 tablet running on an S4 Snapdragon processor. Looks pretty swift and the mobile broadband option allows for 4G LTE through AT&T. "And, by the way, no fan." Wow. Lots of applause there.

12:32PM:Jacobs is now discussing how Qualcomm is investing heavily in the connected home and how it's working with consumer electronics manufacturers to create devices, like home appliances, that all talk together using HiFi technology.

12:33PM:Qualcomm and Lenovo have the world's first Android-based Snapdragon powered TV and it will first launch in China. It's here today. Liu Jun, senior vice president of Lenovo is taking the stage now.

12:34PM:Jun says Lenovo believes that all the new devices will be connected and powered by the cloud. "We are transforming Lenovo from a leading personal computer company to a leading personal internet device company."

12:34PM:"This year, we are bringing you the world's first Snapdragon based TV, the Lenovo smart TVs."

12:36PM:The TV looks pretty awesome, although its display looks pretty small from our seats. It has its own smart UI and application platform. From the main menu you can access internet applications and users can gesture to switch screens. No keyboard is required, the device has integrated voice control embedded in the remote. Pretty awesome looking technology. During the demo someone searched Ocean and it found a clip and then said "play video" and the clip started. Lots of applause.

12:36PM:The TV runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and has a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It can run the latest applications and can run console quality games. We're getting a demo of a racing game now.

12:38PM:Instead of needing a console you can just run an Android game on the television. We're looking at a Gameloft title called Asphalt Adrenaline 6. The graphics actually look decent even though they are blown up on the TV screen. Curious how the controls work, though..

12:38PM:"What we have seen today is just a start." - Jun

12:39PM:The TV will be on exhibit here so we're going to check that out for sure later today.

12:40PM:Jacobs wants to touch on education now, beyond the confines of the classroom.

12:40PM:"We think the eReader is the next mobile device to revolutionize the classroom."

12:41PM:"We believe to be truly effective, eReaders must deliver both text and video and have to be usable indoors and out." QUalcomm's Mirasol technology addresses all of those issues. It uses bio-mimicry which is inspired by the way a butterfly uses its wings to create power."

12:42PM:Jacobs is introducing a new eReader from a Chinese partner called Hanvon CAT eReader. It has more than 150,000 titles and 100 Chinese newspapers. More than 90% of the content is in color, it clearly runs Android given the controls at the bottom of the device. It looks neat but we're not overly blown away. It will be available next month in China.

12:43PM:500 million children in India lack adequate schools. Even with funding it will take too long to build brick and mortar schools, so mobile devices can help children learn now instead of waiting for infrastructure to be built.

12:45PM:Qualcomm has partnered with Sesame Workshop in India to help children in the New Delhi area. It helps prepare kids for school by delivering mobile material to their phones. Vuforia, another technology, uses the camera's cell phones and uses 3D graphics to overlay 3D graphics on top of the real world objects. It reminds us of augmented technology stuff. It's already used by 17,000 developers on 400 smartphones and tablets and is used in 300 Android and iOS devices. Sesame Workshop uses it and the president and CEO H. Melvin Ming is taking the stage to talk more.

12:46PM:"Qualcomm's Vuforia offers an exciting new dimension for mobile experiences" - Ming. "We're working together with Qualcomm to maximize learning on the platform." Now we're watching Rover Monster demo how it all works and I'm scared.

12:48PM:We're looking at a Sesame Street playset that allows children to use Sesame Street play pieces and when a camera is pointed at them from a tablet or smartphone they come to life. Similar to what we've seen with other augmented reality applications but this should be fun for kids.

12:49PM:Basically the tablet makes the playset come to life using Qualcomm's Vuforia technology. Qualcomm has a focus on empowering its partners to create intelligent toys.

12:51PM:Grover is rambling about something now.

12:52PM:Ok Paul Jacobs is back on the stage. "As you just saw, we're working hard to drive Augmented Reality to the next level. Qualcomm's tech is the first to recognize multiple 3D objects at the same time and it works at any angle, a full 360 degrees."

12:53PM:Qualcomm is also focused on healthcare and is working on new tools to help medical professionals treat patients. Qualcomm's light division launched a new innovative health solution that captures and delivers medical data and deliver it to any database formrom any wireless device. It's investing $100 million to help capitalize new developments in this field.

12:54PM:Dr. Eric Topol, the chief academic officer of Scripps Health just took the stage, he has a new book out that's being released here at CES. "We're preparing for a consumer healthcare revolution," Topol says.

12:56PM:One device allows users to view a cardiogram on their smartphone. It's called the Alive Core and you can simply put your finger on the back of a device and the cardiogram starts popping up on the screen. Pretty amazing stuff, maybe I can save money on my EKGs. "You can send it to your Facebook friends or your doctor," he joked, but he said he actually used it on a flight to diagnose a heart attack and save a life on the plane.

12:57PM:Now we're seeing a watch that shows all of its wearer's vital signs. In shows blood pressure (non invasive), respiratory rate, oxygen in the bloodstream, temperature and the heartbeat. "It's like an ICU on the wrist." It can change hospital beds to monitor beds, and when it's in the home and on the mobile front, it means you can look at your phone. "A culture of cybercondriacs could be created."

12:58PM:400 million diabetics in the world, over a billion pre-diabetics. The biggest problem is controlling blood sugars. We've never had continuous sugar levels being reported on a phone, but he's showing a product that allows a user to view their glucose level ever minute. It's a widget on an Android phone, pretty awesome. When the app is open you can view trends by hour, every 6 hours and more. We're honestly pretty impressed.

1:00PM:We're headed to an era where we can carry a DNA sequence on our cell phone and know which drugs we will react positively or negatively to.

1:01PM:Apparently heart attacks begin to happen a week or two ahead of time, and there's technology that will soon allow users to be alerted ahead of time through their smartphone. "It's about digitization of man."

1:03PM:"The Qualcomm Foundation is pioneering new health technology," - Paul Jacobs, "and to do this, we're partnering with the X Prize Foundation. CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis is on the stage now.

1:03PM:X Price Foundation wants to drive medical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity.

1:05PM:X Prize originally had a $10 million competition to challenge teams to take 3 people into space twice in two weeks.

1:05PM:Now X Prize is offering prizes in life sciences, environmental areas and more. We're not sure how this relates to Qualcomm right now other than the two are partnered.

1:06PM:Ok, he's announcing the Qualcomm Tri Quarter prize to bring the health technology from Star Trek to life. Sounds like they should be talking to the doctor who just took the stage before the X Prize CEO.

1:08PM:It's a $10 million purse, open to teams anywhere on the planet, and the goal is to revolutionize healthcare so we can have everything in the palm of our hands. The winning team has to be able to diagnose themselves without using a doctor or going to a physician and it has to be easy and fun to use. "If we can make this happen, we are going to drive an era of healthcare abundance so that anyone with a mobile device will be able to have healthcare in the palm of their hands."

1:10PM:"We're only at the beginning of what's possible for mobile," - Paul Jacobs. "We're shipping more than a million chips every single day. We're excited about these trends we've talked about this morning. Whether you're from a developed country or a developed country at the end of the day we're all living in mobile countries. There are incredible opportunities ahead in this age of mobile."

1:10PM:"We hope you think of Qualcomm as your partner on that journey. Mobile is transformative. It powers us. It inspires us. At the epicenter of all that is you." That's all! Thanks for joining us everyone!

One of the many reasons to buy an NVIDIA Tegra 2-powered device is support for Tegra Zone, NVIDIA’s exclusive gaming portal. Qualcomm is looking to combat the feature, however, and the company announced its own gaming portal on Thursday dubbed the Snapdragon GameCommand. Similar to Tegra Zone, GameCommand will have exclusive content that offers Snapdragon-optimized games for Qualcomm-powered devices. The app will initially only be available in North America and will be released in the Android Market on January 10th. Will we also see an O-Zone for OMAP-optimized games pop up soon? One can only wish. Read on for Qualcomm’s press release.

Snapdragon GameCommand to Launch on Android Market at CES 2012
UFC Fighter Alistair “The Reem” Overreem to be Onsite at Qualcomm’s Booth Showcasing One of the Latest Games Optimized for Snapdragon Devices

SAN DIEGO – January 5, 2012 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc. (QuIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is expected to launch the Snapdragon GameCommand™ application to the Android Market on January 10, 2012, the opening day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). At its heart, Snapdragon GameCommand will give mobile users a way to quickly discover, organize and access the latest Snapdragon optimized, featured and exclusive games. It will also provide feeds from top gaming news sites to help consumers stay up to date with the latest gaming news.

Snapdragon GameCommand will enable users to easily access and play many of the over 100 Snapdragon™ GamePack featured games on a wide range of mobile phones and tablets. The Snapdragon GamePack includes several titles exclusively available on Snapdragon devices running on Android for a limited time, including “Fight Game Heroes” from Khaeon Gamestudio. “Fight Game Heroes” features head-to-head battles with real MMA fighters, including multiple combat champion and UFC fighter Alistair “The Reem” Overeem. Visitors to CES will have the chance to meet the 6′-5″, 265-pound Overeem in-person and watch as he takes on Qualcomm executives in live rounds of “Fight Game Heroes” at the Qualcomm Booth in the LVCC South Hall, Upper Level, Booth #30313.

Other exclusive games that are accessible to consumers with Snapdragon GameCommand include titles such as “Bunny Maze 3D” from Eyelead Software and “Desert Winds™” from Southend Interactive. In “Bunny Maze 3D”, players help the adventurous Bunny get back his stolen carrots, in a cheerful journey through a magical world. In the “Desert Winds” mini-game players take on the persona of princess Amira as she battles gruesome creatures of the desert to save her people.

“With mobile gaming proliferating at a blistering pace, apps like Snapdragon GameCommand make it easy for consumers to discover and access the most advanced Snapdragon optimized games,” says Dave Durnil, director of advanced gaming at Qualcomm. “With exclusive and highly-anticipated games like ‘Fight Game Heroes’ and ‘The Reem’ Snapdragon mobile gaming is really starting to heat up.”

Snapdragon GameCommand is expected to be available in North America at launch and will be available in other markets at a later date.

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show is less than a week away and while HTC has plans to announce multiple devices with various carrier partners, the Taiwan-based vendor is seemingly saving its more powerful smartphones for next month. JPMorgan Chase analyst Alvin Kwok wrote in a note to investors on Wednesday that HTC plans to unveil multiple smartphones powered by NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor at Mobile World Congress in February. The handsets will also include Qualcomm’s MSM 8906 4G LTE chipsets, Taiwan-based financial newspaper Commercial Times quoted Kwok as having said. BGR exclusively reported details surrounding the upcoming HTC Edge smartphone, a quad-core Android phone set to be announced at MWC in February. HTC is also expected to unveil the HTC Ville, a dual-core handset thinner than Apple’s iPhone 4S, at next month’s show. While a number of analysts are forecasting a slow year for HTC, Kwok believes the vendor’s shipments will grow 15% in 2012 and 29% in 2013.

[Via DigiTimes]

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Following the FCC’s approval last week, AT&T announced Tuesday that it has finalized its acquisition of Qualcomm’s 700MHz spectrum licenses. The spectrum, which was previously used for Qualcomm’s FLO TV product, covers more than 300 million United States residents. AT&T said it paid Qualcomm approximately $1.9 billion in the deal. “This spectrum will help AT&T continue to deliver a world-class mobile broadband experience to our customers,” said AT&T SVP-Federal Regulatory Bob Quinn explained recently. AT&T’s full press release follows after the break.

AT&T Completes Purchase of Wireless Spectrum from Qualcomm
Dallas, Texas December 27, 2011

AT&T* announced today that it has completed its acquisition of spectrum from Qualcomm. AT&T purchased 700 MHz spectrum licenses covering more than 300 million people for approximately $1.9 billion.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Now that its bid to acquire T-Mobile USA for $39 billion has been put to bed by strong opposition, AT&T has to look elsewhere in an effort to find spectrum that will accommodate the carrier’s ever-growing subscriber base while it transitions to LTE. The carrier is clearly facing an uphill battle but it took a sizable step forward on Thursday evening when the Federal Communications Commission granted approval to AT&T’s proposed acquisition of 700MHz spectrum licenses from Qualcomm. ”This spectrum will help AT&T continue to deliver a world-class mobile broadband experience to our customers,” said AT&T SVP-Federal Regulatory Bob Quinn. AT&T will pay Qualcomm approximately $1.9 billion when the deal closes in the next few days, and the licenses AT&T gains cover more than 300 million people in the United States. AT&T’s press release follows below.

AT&T Receives Regulatory Approval for Purchase of Wireless Spectrum from Qualcomm

Dallas, Texas, December 22, 2011

 

AT&T* announced today that it has received all required regulatory approvals for AT&T’s acquisition of spectrum from Qualcomm. AT&T is purchasing 700 MHz spectrum licenses covering more than 300 million people for approximately $1.9 billion.

“This spectrum will help AT&T continue to deliver a world-class mobile broadband experience to our customers,” said Bob Quinn, senior vice president-Federal Regulatory, AT&T. “We appreciate the FCC Chairman, the Commissioners and their staff for completing its review before the holidays.

“As spectrum is the lifeblood of the U.S. wireless industry, we are pleased that the FCC did not reduce the spectrum screen, however, we continue to believe any changes to the process by which it is allocated should be subject to open and transparent public discussion and clear to everyone with an interest in ensuring the health of our industry.”

The companies expect to close the transaction in the coming days.

Speaking at an investor meeting recently, Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs confirmed that his company is working with Microsoft in an effort to deploy Windows 8-powered computers that run on Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon processors. “We’re going to see some interesting stuff going on,” Jacobs said. “Windows 8 on ARM is a big opportunity.” It’s not an easy task: Microsoft’s previous operating systems, and the existing applications, are designed to run on x86 processors. Qualcomm is optimistic that Snapdragon PCs will be available by the end of next year however, and that developers will rewrite applications to run properly on ARM processors. “For the apps that you really care about, I don’t see it as a significant growth inhibitor in terms of ARM vs. Windows,” Qualcomm chief operating officer Steve Mollenkopf said according to CNET. “I don’t think the impact is as significant as what others believe.”

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