Qualcomm is currently the only company that provides the processors for the smartphones that run Microsoft"s Windows Phone 7 operating system. But it looks like Qualcomm is looking to expand that relationship to Windows 8 as well. Forbes reports that in a new interview, Qualcomm"s president Steve Mollenkopf said today that in terms of what Windows 8 offers, "It will be pretty exciting, These types of opportunities where the ecosystem and market changes in a big way don’t come along very often."
Currently, smartphones with Windows Phone 7 all have the Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm running things inside. Mollenkopf admitted that the "market acceptance" of Windows Phone 7 devices is not where it should be. However, he was confident that the marketplace will start accepting Windows Phone 7, saying, "It’s hard to bet against Microsoft, given all the assets they have."
Qualcomm is already working with Microsoft to develop processors that will run Windows 8. Microsoft announced earlier this year that Windows 8 could run on ARM-designed processors such as the ones made by Qualcomm. Mollenkopf said that the first processor that would run Windows 8 from his company will be the dual core MSM 8960 chipset which is due for release sometime in early 2012.
He also confirmed that a "Snapdragon ecosystem team" is working to create Windows 8 applications that will run on Qualcomm chips. Mollenkopf said, "We’re investing very heavily to really prepare for [Windows 8]."