Intel axes Broxton Atom and SoFIA modem projects

As part of its big overhaul, which involves 12,000 job cuts, Intel is making some big changes in its mobile pipeline. The chip giant has cancelled its upcoming low-power Broxton Atom processor as well as the SoFIA embedded modem products. Broxton was intended to compete with ARM processors in the low and mid-end market, whereas SoFIA was a x86 SoC with integrated 3G radio for the entry-level smartphone and feature phone market.

On the bright side, analysts report Intel isn't making a lot of cuts within its desktop and server CPU divisions, nor to the low-end PC parts in its Atom family. At the same time, Intel is also adamant about breaking into the IoT market:

Not all of Intel's lowest-power parts are getting cut, though. Forbes reports that the company has reaffirmed its dedication to its Internet of Things efforts. While PC and data center processors are a steady profit center for the company, growth in this space has been slowing for quite some time. Intel told Forbes that it sees the budding IoT market as a potential growth space for a few reasons. The company says the IoT lacks established players, unlike the smartphone and feature phone markets. Intel also figures it has a platform advantage in this space, thanks to the ubiquity of x86 PCs as endpoints and servers.