Earlier this month, Google disclosed that it has designed
its own processor chip to power its new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro high-end
phones, ending its complete reliance on Qualcomm, which will still supply chips
for the lower-priced Pixel 5A.
Nikkei Asia earlier reported Samsung will manufacture the
processor for Google, a unit of Alphabet. Two sources familiar with the matter
told Reuters Samsung will also supply the 5G modem technology.
Samsung's move to provide Pixel's modem technology is
important because the Korean firm is one of only three companies in the world
capable of making 5G modems that connect devices to wireless data networks. The
others are Qualcomm, the market leader by a wide margin, and Taiwan's MediaTek.
Samsung widely uses its Exynos modem technology in its own
flagship smartphones in Asia and Europe. But it has long relied on Qualcomm to
provide modems for US versions.
That is in part because Qualcomm has a technology lead in a
variant of 5G networking called millimetre wave, which provides the fastest
speeds available with the new networks. To date, all smart phones released in
the United States - including Apple's iPhone - have used Qualcomm chips to tap
millimetre wave networks.
Samsung told Reuters its new modem technology was capable of
millimetre wave networking, and Google said its new phones will support
millimeter wave networks as previous versions did, though neither company would
comment directly on whether they are working together on the new Pixel.
Winning Google's Pixel business gives Samsung its first big
chance to show off its chipmaking skills to the wider phone industry, which has
long been wary of buying a key component from a fierce rival, said Kevin
Krewell, principal analyst at TIRIAS Research. The Korean firm has never before
sold its 5G modem chip technology to an outside company.
Qualcomm in a statement said it retained its technology lead because its millimetre wave technology relied on other chips in addition to the modem. "A modem is not enough to support millimetre wave in phones," Qualcomm said. © Reuters
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