Qualcomm readies 3G/4G mobile chipsets
Mobile chip maker Qualcomm said Thursday that it has started providing new wireless chipsets that combine 3G and 4G wireless technology to help carriers transition to the next generation of wireless technology.
The company said Huawei Technologies, LG Electronics Novatel Wireless, Sierra Wireless, and ZTE are among the first mobile-device manufacturers to test the new chips.
Qualcomm said that devices that use the new chips could be available in commercial products starting in the second half of 2010.
The new chips will allow wireless phones and other portable devices to switch between a 4G wireless network using LTE, or long-term evolution, technology and HSPA Plus, a 3G wireless technology.
This is important because many carriers around the world plan to upgrade their networks to 4G using LTE. But these networks won't be ubiquitous overnight, and consumers will not be able to get 4G signals everywhere and will need to roam on 3G networks so they can have coverage almost everywhere. This means that devices will need chips that allow them to switch between networks.
HSPA Plus is the next iteration of 3G wireless technology that can provide download speeds of up to 21 megabits per second. Many wireless operators, including Telstra of Australia and AT&T in the U.S., are upgrading their networks now. These carriers eventually plan to upgrade their networks to LTE.
Qualcomm also announced it is providing a new set of mobile-device chips to manufacturers for testing that will add more robust multimedia features to new smartphones.
This new chipset family supports high-definition video recording and playback, enhanced graphics, and an overall chip design that is optimized for a highly responsive Web experience. Qualcomm expects phone makers to have devices that use the new MSM7x30 family of chipsets commercially available by the end of 2010.
The new chipsets will allow phones to operate on the most advanced 3G wireless networks, such as those running the latest generation of HSPA and EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized).
The chips will support handsets that use the Android, Brew, Symbian, and Windows Mobile operating systems. Some of the features that the new chips could enable include a 12-megapixel camera, 720p video recording, and 3D gaming.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
====================================
Surfing on the move or working efficiently: more and more people are taking advantage of the benefits of mobile data communication. The rapidly growing volume of data traffic means that the network needs to expand continuously. Right in time for the ITU Telecom World 2009 in Geneva, Swisscom is rolling out HSPA+, the latest technology for mobile data traffic. HSPA+ allows far more people to surf the net simultaneously from the same radio cell without any loss in speed.
The quantity of data traffic sent via the wireless telecommunications network has trebled in the space of a year. An ever-growing proportion of Swisscom's over five million mobile customers uses mobile data communication, whether for surfing on the move or attending to business. And this rapid growth is set to continue. Particularly in major urban centres, tourist areas and busy SBB lines, the mobile network is at times stretched almost to capacity which is why Swisscom is continuously upgrading its mobile networks. Following on from the introduction of HSPA 14.4 some nine months ago, Swisscom is again bringing the very latest in telecommunications technology to Switzerland in the shape of HSPA+, which will double the transmission speed of each radio cell to up to 28.8 Mbps. This means that far more customers can use these radio cells simultaneously and at a constant high speed.
Millions to be invested to increase capacity
Swisscom is to invest tens of millions in the HSPA+ rollout over the coming years. Every year, Swisscom invests over one billion Swiss francs in the expansion and modernisation of its infrastructure and equips it to meet future requirements.
Swisscom will commence its HSPA+ rollout at the Geneva exhibition site at the launch of the world's largest telecommunications exhibition, which is taking place in the Swiss city on 5 - 9 October 2009. Thereafter, further locations across Switzerland where high volumes of customers regularly access the mobile Internet will be added. It is anticipated that the first terminal devices capable of utilising the higher bandwidth will appear on the market over the coming year.
====================================