Motorola signs deal with Intel to use their processors
I was just announced that Motorola will begin shipping Android Smartphones and Tablets which use Intel's Atom processor in Q2 of this year.
I was a little caught off guard by this as I always thought Intel processors used too much power for use in Smartphones.
Another thing which is really interesting is that Motorola is being acquired by Google. What impact will this have on Android? Google has always said that Motorola will be a separate company but that's generally a short term only thing. Eventually they'll probably integrate them.
Now that Intel has signed Motorola, what of other top Android OEMs like Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony?
Did Intel give Motorola a deal they couldn't refuse? Is this a result of Android OEMs needing help to differentiate their products further?
Does this mean Intel powered Motorola smartphones won't run Android apps written for ARM powered ones? Maybe Intel knows something we don't.
I've also been thinking about the Tablet angle. Maybe Motorola is thinking of making Intel powered, Windows 8 Tablets.
What market positioning will these Intel powered devices have? Will they be halo products for Motorola or are these going to be cheap ODM'd products which are designed by a 3rd party? Is Intel so desperate to get into the Android space that they're going to settle for the low end for now?
What do you think?
Intel and Motorola Mobility Strike Multi-Year Strategic Mobile Partnership
Motorola Mobility to Begin Shipping Intel®-Based Smartphone in 2H 2012
Jan. 10, 2012 LAS VEGAS - Jan 10, 2012 - INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW - Intel Corporation and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) announced that the two companies were entering into a multi-year, multi-device strategic relationship that includes smartphones which Motorola will begin shipping later this year using Intel® Atom™ processors and the Android™ platform.The collaboration, which also covers tablets, will combine Intel's leadership in silicon processor technology and computing innovation with Motorola's mobile device design expertise to deliver products that have the high performance, long battery life and convenience necessary for increasingly mobile lifestyles."When great silicon and software technology meets great mobile and design innovation, amazing things can happen," said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. "Our long-term relationship with Motorola Mobility will help accelerate Intel® architecture into new mobile market segments. We expect the combination of our companies to break new ground and bring the very best of computing capabilities to smartphones and tablets, which in turn will help to create powerful new experiences that connect and enrich people's lives wherever they may be.""We are delighted to be partnering with Intel to deliver smartphones and tablets based on Intel's Atom processor to consumers and businesses," said Sanjay Jha, Chairman and CEO, Motorola Mobility. "Though there are 5 billion mobile subscribers in the world, less than 800 million are using a smartphone today. With Android as the leading smartphone OS globally and advancements in computing technology we see tremendous opportunity for the converged devices market."Smartphones and tablets are quickly becoming an indispensible part of people's daily lives -- making them constant companions. The strategic relationship between Intel and Motorola Mobility will expand opportunity for continued innovation in these areas as they work closely to leverage Intel's low power system-on-chip (SoC) roadmap for Motorola Mobility's converged mobile device portfolio. The companies will collaborate across hardware, software and services to deliver complete solutions and disruptive new user experiences that offer long battery life, increased computing performance, advanced imaging and video capabilities, and seamless wireless connections.
Unlike Medfield, Moorestown was not really single chip solution. Its lackluster power consumption may not be adequate for mobile gadgets in the real world. This may be the reason why we have only seen a few concept / prototype devices. Since then, ARM has been enjoying the virtual monopoly in the mobile device segment expansion along with its licensees and partners, like the solutions from Qualcomm, Nvidia, ST-Ericsson, Texas Instruments, Samsung, Apple, etc.
Intel may finally have got the right stuffs to compete with the ARM crowd with Medifield. At least on the paper, the specifications and benchmarks are impressive against some competitors. It also has the deep pocket and resources to fight. Initially, I believe the market positioning should be in the middle ground. We may not see all the "top-tier" brands signing up or featuring it in their "flagship" devices at first. Under the wings of Google, Motorola should have the flexibility to try things differently. Intel, after all, has invested in Google Android to bolster its mobile strategy. Lenovo has always got a spot in the Chinese mid-range gadget market to test the water. (I keep thinking of the bundling discount it may offer to PC markers like Lenovo, tagged to the order of the desktop / server processors).
Another intriguing potential I am thinking of, is the Japanese domestic market. The operators (NTT DoCoMo, au by KDDI and Softbank) - manufacturers (Sharp, Panasonic, NEC and Fujitsu) relationship are closely knitted. Their "keitai" are highly customized for each of the "Big-3" operators like fashion business. If Intel can make a convincing pitch to them against Renesas, there is a bright future.
Perhaps in the future, superphones running the latest Android with Intel 4 GHz quad core CPUs, 4 GB RAM, truly pocket computers that just happen to make phone calls.
I expect great things from Google, Moto and Intel.
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Boycott phones that lack microSD storage! @silverfang1977
We can probably expect to see more of this. See this recent article in the Economist:
"Space invaders: America’s Intel and Britain’s ARM have long dominated different bits of the global chip market. Now each is attacking the other’s stronghold "
I think great things are going to come of all this. Alas...I wish Google would encourage Moto to drop their awful proprietary UI....I Love my xt860 but I hate blur and custom roms never work right on this model...never have working 3g.
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Intel re-enters the mobile device segment
Originally Posted by howard
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