Snapdragon-based smart phone segment hots up

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: In an attempt at pushing CPUs used in the handset-manufacturing industry in Taiwan into the 1GHz segment, High Tech Computer (HTC) and Acer will launch their respective Qualcomm Snapdragon-based smart phones in the fourth quarter of 2009.

While Acer will bring to the market its F1 Snapdragon-based smart phone, HTC will unveil its Snapdragon-based smart phone, christened the Leo, by Q4.

According to a review, Acer’s F1 Snapdragon-based smart phone will run on Windows Mobile 6.5, and is expected to hit the market on October 6. The launch will coincide with the unveiling of the new mobile operating system from Microsoft, according to a DigiTimes report.

Features of the F1 include, a 3.8-inch touch panel, 5-megapixel camera and support Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth 2.1. The pricing comes as surprising, owing to the fact that the F1 would cost US$555, much less than what was expected.

Meanwhile, HTC will line up its Leo Snapdragon-based smart phone to run on Windows Mobile 6.5. Unique features would include a 4.3-inch capacitive multi-touch panel and a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera that has multi-sensors for speeds, light and distance.

The Snapdragon-based smart phones are gaining much currency with the market eager to lap them up. Following plans by Acer and HTC, other Taiwan-based handset makers are also joined the race by developing Snapdragon-based smart phones. Players such as Asustek Computer and Inventec Appliances are currently seeing a huge opportunity in this segment and are lining up volume production for the first half of next year.