In case you didn’t hear, Qualcomm doesn’t want you calling its processors “processors” anymore, it would rather have you call them platforms instead. The company today announced a refreshed version of its entry-level mobile platform after three years. It’s meant to expand the reach of 4G connectivity to emerging markets where feature phones still account for a significant chunk of the mobile market.
The company announced its Qualcomm 205 platform today at an event in New Delhi. The platform includes Qualcomm’s 205 System-on-Chip that has 4G LTE support. The chip can handle up to 150 Mbps download speeds on 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. There’s also a 1.1 GHz CPU, Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU, and support for dual-SIM.
Features phones are still a big deal in markets like India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. However, they haven’t really been able to provide better access to the internet due to technological limitations. Qualcomm is addressing that issue with its new platform. It’s obviously not as advanced at other Qualcomm platforms but does have support for 3-megapixel cameras and a 480p VGA display.
Qualcomm says that phones powered by this platform will enable the use of Voice over LTE and Voice over Wi-Fi as well as enable users to process financial transactions which would be very useful for small business owners. Qualcomm is making this platform available to manufacturing partners starting today, the first devices powered by it will be available by the second quarter this year.