Qualcomm expands Snapdragon lineup

Qualcomm®, the San Diego-based chip manufacturer that has made a name for itself in recent years in the mobile market, is looking to expand its reach and go beyond smartphones and tablet computers.

According to technology news blog BGR, Qualcomm has revealed several new variants of its signature Snapdragon™ S4 chipset. Separated into four tiers -- Prime, Pro, Plus and Play -- the Snapdragon S4 series will power everything from smartphones to high-definition televisions.

Snapdragon S4 Prime occupies the top tier and, with a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU and Adreno 320 graphics, is designed for smart TVs and set-top boxes. Pro, meanwhile, includes the APZ8064 and MSM8960T processors and will power Windows® RT tablet computers and laptops, BGR reports.

On the lower tiers are Plus and Play, both designed for the mobile market. S4 Plus technology will go into high-end smartphones and lower-end tablets, while Play will be focused on the entry-level smartphone market.

There are rumors circulating that Qualcomm is also looking to get a piece of the ultrathin PC market, which has received a lot of attention lately with the emergence of the Ultrabook™. Though few details are available on the chipmaker's plan for this space, Tim McDonough, vice president of marketing at Qualcomm, says the company will benefit from its time in the mobile market.