Qualcomm Unveils 205 Mobile Platform, Brings 4G Connectivity to Feature Phones

Qualcomm Technologies, has unveiled the Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform, designed to bring 4G LTE connectivity and 4G services to entry-level feature phones.

The Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform includes the Qualcomm 205 SoC, which encompasses the baseband functionalities, plus hardware components including RF front end, discrete Wi-Fi, power management, audio codec, speaker amplifier, and software, all to enable a comprehensive mobile solution.

The Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform is designed for OEMs and ODMs that service consumers who may otherwise be unable to gain access to high quality, affordable, reliable mobile devices. This includes emerging regions, such as those in India, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

As operators around the world redefine subscription plans to take greater advantage of robust LTE network rollouts, devices with the Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform are designed to support consumers, micro-enterprises, and others, to economically communicate using advanced LTE data services such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi).

Bringing 4G and other advanced connectivity features to emerging regions can have a profound effect on those served. From a business point of view, small enterprises, that make up a large percentage of the economy in regions such as India and Southeast Asia, will have more reliable, faster and more secure access to process financial transactions.

Multiple days of battery life means reduced need to charge, important for those who may not always have access to a reliable power source. Faster download speeds allow for on-demand content including music and videos.

Qualcomm 205 SoC features include:

•LTE Cat 4 modem with up to 150 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload;
•Support for 4G, 3G and 2G networks;
•Support for 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, ANT+, FM radio;
•Dual Core CPU at 1.1 GHz;
•Qualcomm® Adreno™ GPU;
•3 megapixel rear camera,.3MP selfie camera
•VGA display at 480p 60 frames per-second;
•HD Video streaming;
•Support for Linux based OS;
•Support for dual SIMs;
•Pin-compatible with Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 210/212

“India and the South East Asia regions present growth opportunities in the telecom space with 4G adoption rising and continued adoption of feature phones. The launch of Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform presents a unique opportunity for OEMs, operators and content providers to extend superior experiences to users by enabling data on feature phones,” said Jim Cathey, senior vice president and president, Asia Pacific and India, Qualcomm Technologies Inc. “A greater percentage of the population will now have access to data and services at speeds that help dramatically improve user experience.”

Congratulating Qualcomm on the occasion of its new mobile platform launch for 4G feature phones, Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary MeitY, commented, “This is an important milestone in the journey of digital India. 4G access to the last mile means empowering every mobile user in India with data, information, payments and infinite possibilities. Qualcomm has been a catalyst in enabling the ecosystem through their Design In India' program. We congratulate the team on the launch of their new mobile platform that is designed and developed in India keeping in mind the features, security and accessibility of 4G feature phones.”

“Qualcomm Technologies is committed to the migration of users and networks from 2G, 2.5G, and 3G to 4G,” said Kedar Kondap, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Feature phones are a lifeline in many emerging countries and the Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform allows us to bring 4G connectivity and services to the masses with devices at price points never seen before.”