Posted on Tuesday, June 30 2015 @ 13:30 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Intel reportedly has to delay the launch of its 28nm SoFIA 4G application processor (AP) until early 2016. DigiTimes
notes that while the chip is ready for mass production, the software giant is having issues with the software that is still not mature enough. This means Intel will have to rely on its SoFIA 3G/3G-R APs for the remainder of the year, and risk overlap with the 14nm second-generation SoFIA 4G product line which is planned for late 2016.
Intel currently only has solutions that pair an independent XMM baseband with an Atom AP for its 4G product lineup, but the solutions are unattractive to players in China due to its high prices. Intel has been working on integrating two chips into an SoC for its SoFIA product line since the end of 2014 to improve the BOM, Digitimes Research noted.
With the SoFIA 4G - which was originally scheduled for 2015 - being delayed until early 2016 and Intel only being able to provide baseband+AP solutions for 4G demand in 2015, the CPU giant may find it difficult to persuade clients to use its solutions for their 4G devices due to the high prices and its subsidies for using its solutions are unlikely to provide much persuasion.
