Qualcomm has recently announced a PC alternative to making high-speed wireless access more widely available for emerging markets, as well as more affordable at the same time. The Kayak PC alternative is said to include a reference design, which, along with the recommended software specifications, will be made available to device manufacturers. They will be able to develop a range of Internet enabling devices that should allow for a wider spread of 3G wireless broadband networks in specific market where even wired Internet access is difficult.

 

According to the company, the Kayak PC alternative is meant to bridge the gap between desktops, which usually connect to the Internet through landlines, and ultra-portable Internet-capable wireless devices like handsets. Qualcomm also said that the Kayak would be based on its dual-core Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM7xxx-series chipsets, offering both computing and connectivity capabilities. Also, related devices are expected to come with a full-featured Web 2.0-capable browser from Opera Software, which should provide access to Web 2.0 productivity applications.

 

Currently, similar connectivity is available on smartphones, yet the company said that Kayak PC would offer support for television sets and computer monitors to be used as displays and/or for a built-in display. Moreover, it will also feature compatibility with standard keyboard and mouse for input. The company added that music player and 3D gaming console functionality would be included as well, not only PC-type designs, allowing for a wide range of products to be developed.

 

Qualcomm said that the Taiwan-based Inventec would manufacture initial Kayak PC alternative units in the first quarter of 2009. The company also added that future commercial Kayak-based devices were expected to include the more comprehensive Snapdragon solution, while the current platform was MSM7xxx-series chipsets based.

 

The Snapdragon platform from Qualcomm includes chipsets that have a special GHz microprocessor core, which works along with the company's sixth-generation DSP core running at 600MHz. The platform also features integrated cellular broadband and support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile TV. Moreover, high definition video recording and playback, WXGA resolution (1280×768), assisted-GPS and hardware-accelerated 3D graphics are available as well.

 

The company expects a lot from the Snapdragon platform. According to the maker, it mixes the best of the smartphone and notebook computing categories. The platform features extremely low power operations and offers all-day battery life. Devices based on it can come in a range of form-factors and operating system support, which includes Microsoft Windows Mobile, Android, as well as a number of Linux-based operating systems. According to Qualcomm, the platform offers power-efficient computing, immersive multimedia, comprehensive connectivity and an “always on, always awake and always connected” experience.

 

The Snapdragon chipsets are used by more than 15 manufacturers in more than 30 device designs. The list includes Acer, Asustek Computer, C-motech, Compal Electronics, Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), High Tech Computer (HTC), Inventec, LG Electronics, Quanta Computer, Samsung Electronics, Toshiba and Wistron. The first devices based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform should emerge in the first half of the next year, on a market that is expected to expand at an 80 percent annual growth rate for the next several years.