Qualcomm joins hands with Microsoft, and AMD to power Always Connected PCs

USA: At the second annual Snapdragon Technology Summit, mobile chip maker Qualcomm has announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring the Windows 10 OS to Snapdragon ARM processors which are found in smartphones generally.

AMD also made a surprise guest appearance at the Qualcomm event, announcing that the two companies were working together to bring LTE connectivity to AMD's Ryzen Mobile platform. This will enable OEMs to build Always Connected PCs with AMD Ryzen mobile processors and Qualcomm Technologies’ connectivity technologies.

HP, Asus, and Lenovo are the first few manufacturers who will bring the Always Connected PCs that include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.

The Always Connected PCs are ultrathin Windows 10 devices powered by Gigabit LTE, to stay connected without relying on Wi-Fi. Gigabit LTE is an advanced form of LTE, which makes downloading a full HD movie- a few seconds' affair. The main benefit of Always Connected PCs is that they are always on and connected like smartphones and have a longer battery life.

“Always Connected PCs are instantly on, always connected with a week of battery life,” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president, Windows and devices group, Microsoft. “Powered by the Snapdragon 835 Mobile PC Platform, these Always PCs have huge benefits for organizations, enabling a new culture of work, better security and lower costs for IT.”

Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies and president of QCTs said, “Qualcomm Technologies continues to transform the way people use their mobile devices. I am honored to have been joined on stage today by industry leaders from around the globe to illustrate how we are driving mobile technology forward to redefine consumer mobile experiences.”

Kevin Lensing, corporate vice president and general manager of the client business unit at AMD said, "AMD and Qualcomm Technologies hope to make it easy for leading global PC companies to create premium computing platforms with virtually always connected, Gigabit LTE speeds alongside the AMD Ryzen mobile processors’ blazingly fast performance, fluid graphics rendering, and optimal efficiency."

The first two Always Connected PCs announced are the 2-in-1 convertible ASUS NovaGo and a detachable HP ENVY x2 Windows on Snapdragon 835. Both are expected to be available early next year.

The HP Envy x2 is an ultra-thin Surface-like  2-in-1 device with a 12.3-inch display, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The battery lasts up to 20 hours. The Envy x2 also reportedly supports Windows Hello facial recognition and an active pen for inking. Pricing details are not available.

Asus’ NovaGo 2-in-1 comes with a 13.3-inch HD display, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. It also comes with a stylus support, and two USB 3.1 ports, a HDMI port, and a microSD reader. Asus’ NovaGo will be priced starting at $599 for 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There will also be a $799 model which will include 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The battery lasts up to 22 hours on a single charge.

Mobile operators are also supporting Qualcomm Technologies’ initiative with Günther Ottendorfer, chief operating officer of technology at Sprint, announcing its support for the new Always Connected PC category and its desire to deliver unlimited data to the Windows on Snapdragon ecosystem.