Qualcomm shows off robot technology
Qualcomm
Inc executives showed off robots made with smartphone technology at an
annual developer conference, but they steered clear of talking about
China, a key growth market where the chipmaker is entangled in an
antitrust investigation.
With an explosion in smartphones in
recent years tapering off, Qualcomm and handset manufacturers are eager
to show consumers and investors that they have more innovation in store
to drive demand for new devices.
The company discussed progress
in 4G LTE and technology and 3D cameras, but demonstrations of robots
made with Qualcomm smartphone technology stole much of the show.
Chief executive Steve Mollenkopf demonstrated a three-wheeled robot
that picked up and sorted a number of small toys such as stuffed animals
and building blocks, based on their shapes.
In another demonstration, engineers quickly trained a one-foot tall robot decked out with wheels, glowing ears and
camera
sensors to come and go based on simple hand gestures.
"The concept that a processor can enable a product to learn a behavior
and change behavior based on learning is powerful," said Qualcomm senior
vice president Raj Talluri. "Now imagine your phone ... You buy a phone
and it learns your behavior and in time the phone starts getting better
and better and more and more personal."
Slower growth
Global smartphone shipments will increase 19% this year, less than last
year's 39% growth and driven by the adoption in developing countries of
handsets selling for under $150, according to Juniper Research.
With demand for smartphones cooling in the United States, Qualcomm sees
consumers in China as key to its future, but the world's leading mobile
chipmaker faces a nearly year-old antitrust investigation there.
That investigation, which could lead to a fine of over $1 billion, and
recent troubles collecting royalties from local manufacturers have some
on Wall Street concerned about Qualcomm's ability to cash in on the
fast-growing Chinese smartphone market.
Qualcomm normally
sticks to future products and upcoming technology at forums aimed at
developers, but the investigation is a major concern on Wall Street.
Senior executives held a lunch with financial analysts at the event, but
Mollenkopf did not attend.
"The big elephant in the room is China," said Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon. "Who cares about anything else right now?"
A Qualcomm spokeswoman at the event declined to discuss the
investigation in China, where Qualcomm also faces growing competition
from smaller rivals such as MediaTek and other small manufacturing
low-cost processors.
Qualcomm
Inc executives showed off robots made with smartphone technology at an
annual developer conference, but they steered clear of talking about
China, a key growth market where the chipmaker is entangled in an
antitrust investigation.
With an explosion in smartphones in recent years tapering off, Qualcomm and handset manufacturers are eager to show consumers and investors that they have more innovation in store to drive demand for new devices.
The company discussed progress in 4G LTE and technology and 3D cameras, but demonstrations of robots made with Qualcomm smartphone technology stole much of the show.
Chief executive Steve Mollenkopf demonstrated a three-wheeled robot that picked up and sorted a number of small toys such as stuffed animals and building blocks, based on their shapes.
In another demonstration, engineers quickly trained a one-foot tall robot decked out with wheels, glowing ears and
"The concept that a processor can enable a product to learn a behavior and change behavior based on learning is powerful," said Qualcomm senior vice president Raj Talluri. "Now imagine your phone ... You buy a phone and it learns your behavior and in time the phone starts getting better and better and more and more personal."
Slower growth
Global smartphone shipments will increase 19% this year, less than last year's 39% growth and driven by the adoption in developing countries of handsets selling for under $150, according to Juniper Research.
With demand for smartphones cooling in the United States, Qualcomm sees consumers in China as key to its future, but the world's leading mobile chipmaker faces a nearly year-old antitrust investigation there.
That investigation, which could lead to a fine of over $1 billion, and recent troubles collecting royalties from local manufacturers have some on Wall Street concerned about Qualcomm's ability to cash in on the fast-growing Chinese smartphone market.
Qualcomm normally sticks to future products and upcoming technology at forums aimed at developers, but the investigation is a major concern on Wall Street. Senior executives held a lunch with financial analysts at the event, but Mollenkopf did not attend.
"The big elephant in the room is China," said Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon. "Who cares about anything else right now?"
A Qualcomm spokeswoman at the event declined to discuss the investigation in China, where Qualcomm also faces growing competition from smaller rivals such as MediaTek and other small manufacturing low-cost processors.
With an explosion in smartphones in recent years tapering off, Qualcomm and handset manufacturers are eager to show consumers and investors that they have more innovation in store to drive demand for new devices.
The company discussed progress in 4G LTE and technology and 3D cameras, but demonstrations of robots made with Qualcomm smartphone technology stole much of the show.
Chief executive Steve Mollenkopf demonstrated a three-wheeled robot that picked up and sorted a number of small toys such as stuffed animals and building blocks, based on their shapes.
In another demonstration, engineers quickly trained a one-foot tall robot decked out with wheels, glowing ears and
camera
sensors to come and go based on simple hand gestures. "The concept that a processor can enable a product to learn a behavior and change behavior based on learning is powerful," said Qualcomm senior vice president Raj Talluri. "Now imagine your phone ... You buy a phone and it learns your behavior and in time the phone starts getting better and better and more and more personal."
Slower growth
Global smartphone shipments will increase 19% this year, less than last year's 39% growth and driven by the adoption in developing countries of handsets selling for under $150, according to Juniper Research.
With demand for smartphones cooling in the United States, Qualcomm sees consumers in China as key to its future, but the world's leading mobile chipmaker faces a nearly year-old antitrust investigation there.
That investigation, which could lead to a fine of over $1 billion, and recent troubles collecting royalties from local manufacturers have some on Wall Street concerned about Qualcomm's ability to cash in on the fast-growing Chinese smartphone market.
Qualcomm normally sticks to future products and upcoming technology at forums aimed at developers, but the investigation is a major concern on Wall Street. Senior executives held a lunch with financial analysts at the event, but Mollenkopf did not attend.
"The big elephant in the room is China," said Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon. "Who cares about anything else right now?"
A Qualcomm spokeswoman at the event declined to discuss the investigation in China, where Qualcomm also faces growing competition from smaller rivals such as MediaTek and other small manufacturing low-cost processors.
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