MeeGo would seem to see Intel taking Qualcomm's own advice and optimizing a software platform for its own architecture, and this would presumably make it hard for Qualcomm to take a key role.
However, it would certainly disrupt its larger rival if it could achieve better MeeGo devices than those on Atom, and lure Nokia that way. If the Nokia deal does not materialize on significant smartphones, Qualcomm faces a big challenge to maintain Snapdragon's momentum.
As the Koreans get serious about smartphones and other mobile web devices, and Nokia gears up for a revival, Qualcomm will need to go on the offensive again.
One area where, like many of its rivals, it sees strong potential is in tablets. Qualcomm and Freescale had defined their own hybrid PC/phone format last year, which they called “smartbook.”
As well as facing some legal problems from a German firm actually called Smartbook, this concept, and name, has been largely eclipsed by the keyboard-less tablet.
Qualcomm was quick to adapt to the new situation, with Jacobs saying the architecture was suited to a wide variety of form factors and the smartbook was never envisaged as being confined to products with keyboards.
He admitted only a few smartbooks had come to market, notably from Lenovo and HP/Telefonica, but believes Snapdragon will show up well in the expected wave of new tablets that will appear soon to challenge the iPad.
This article originally appeared in Rethink Wireless
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