Qualcomm Trying to Connect the Cellular Internet of Things

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electronicdesign.com, Dec. 19, 2018 – 

Qualcomm, the largest supplier of modem chips used in mobile devices, introduced the X50 modem in 2016 to connect smartphones to 5G networks, which are expected to be 10 to 100 times faster than current LTE technology. But as it attempts to move everything from wearables to factory equipment onto cellular networks, Qualcomm has had to start focusing less on speed and more on power.

The company's latest 9205 LTE modem is designed for Internet of Things devices that send small amounts of information infrequently over long distances without depleting battery power too quickly. The modem supports LTE-M and NB-IoT networks, which are capable of tapping into the same LTE technology used by 4G. It also allows electronic devices to connect to second generation, or 2G, cellular networks.

The company said that the modem is around 50 percent smaller - approximately the size of a dime - and 40 percent lower cost than its current Internet of Things chip, the MDM9206. The idle power consumption has also been lowered by 70 percent. Qualcomm is targeting tiny battery-powered devices that have to remain functional for years without recharging, according to Vieri Vanghi, Qualcomm Europe's VP of product management.

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