Qualcomm's chip was designed into an HTC handset given the longstanding

Tag : single-chip computer
The first Android-powered handset, the G1, was introduced Sept. 24in New York by T-Mobile USA. The handset is manufactured byTaiwan's HTC Corp. and features Qualcomm's dual-core MSM7201Asemiconductor with integrated processing, multimedia, graphicscapabilities and multi-mode 3G mobile broadband connectivity.
"I think it gives them consumer mindset. A lot of people are goingto associate Android with Qualcomm and with HTC," said WillStrauss, principal researcher at Forward Concepts. "It's certainlygoing to give them 20 feet in front of the next guy, but that canonly hold off the competition for a certain amount of time."
The Open Handset Alliance —the group of companies created todevelop and promote Android as an open Linux-based alternative toproprietary OS for mobile devices—includes Qualcomm as wellas rivals such as Texas Instruments Inc., Broadcom Corp. andMarvell Semiconductor Inc.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, a number ofvendors showed off Android-based prototype handsets, includingQualcomm, TI and Marvell. STMicroelectronics showed off its Nomadikmultimedia application processor , the STn8815, ported to various OS, including Android.
Qualcomm advantage
"Being in the first phone with that OS is an advantage," said AllenNogee, principal analyst at In-Stat. "The integration with the OSis the tough part, and it shows that they've got that worked out."He added that it doesn't mean there won't be other Android handsetsthat incorporate chips from Qualcomm's rivals.
"It certainly doesn't mean [Qualcomm] will be the only chipsupplier to Android handsets," said Tina Teng, an analyst withiSuppli Corp. "I don't think that is what Google would want,either."
Analysts said it was no surprise that Qualcomm's chip was designedinto an HTC handset given the longstanding collaboration betweenthe companies. Strauss noted that Qualcomm is an equity investor inHTC (Qualcomm announced minority equity investment in the companyin 2001).
"We certainly have first mover advantage," said Jason Bremner,senior director of Qualcomm's cellular products group, of being inthe first Android phone . Bremner added that Qualcomm has been working with Google for twoyears on Android but, noting the presence of competitors within thealliance, added, "It certainly isn't an exclusive relationship."
More Android handsets in the works?
Teng said she does not expect any other handsets running Android tocome out this year. She said she expects Motorola Inc. and SamsungElectronics Co. Ltd to bring out handsets based on Android nextyear.
Nogee said he isn't aware of any other imminent Android handsetintroductions, but said he wouldn't be surprised to see a fewothers this year. "It's still early in the year," he said. "Therecould be more out by Christmas time."
HTC, Motorola, Samsung and LG Electronics Inc. are all members ofthe Open Handset Alliance. Bremner said Qualcomm is working withother OEMs to develop handsets that operate on the Android platformbut declined to say which vendors.
Bremner said integrating Android into MSM7201A required a big R&D commitment, but declined to provide specific numbers. "I cancertainly tell you that we made a significant investment in Linuxand we have made a big contribution to Android to make itsuccessful," he said.
Qualcomm will work to support Linux-based systems on its otherdual-core single chip handset chips, Bremner said. He declined tooffer a timeline for this integration, but said the work would beeasier now that the first one is done.
The MSM7201A features an ARM11 applications processor and ARM9modem and supports W-CDMA/HSUPA and EGPRS networks. It integratesQDSP400 and QDSP500 digital signal processors as well as MobileDigital Display Interface, Bluetooth 1.2 baseband processor andWi-Fi support. The chip was originally developed to target theMicrosoft Mobile OS.
The G1 phone has a touch-sensitive screen enabled by SynapticsInc.'s ClearPad sensor. It also features a computer-like keyboard,Wi-Fi connections and includes Google applications and services,like Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube. It comes in black, white orbrown and will initially retail for $179 in the United States. Thephone will be available in Europe starting in November.
- Dylan McGrath
EE Times