Qualcomm Employee: Apple's 64-Bit A7 Chip 'Set Off Panic' In the Industry

When Apple released the 64-Bit A7 Chip, it reportedly "hit [Qualcomm] in the gut" and caused 'panic' in the industry, according to a Qualcomm employee. Interestingly enough, when the chip was first announced, a Qualcomm executive claimed it was a "marketing gimmick." That statement was later retracted and the executive who made those remarks was reassigned.

“The 64-bit Apple chip hit us in the gut,” says the Qualcomm employee. “Not just us, but everyone, really. We were slack-jawed, and stunned, and unprepared. It’s not that big a performance difference right now, since most current software won’t benefit. But in Spinal Tap terms it’s like, 32 more, and now everyone wants it.”

“The roadmap for 64-bit was nowhere close to Apple’s, since no one thought it was that essential,” the Qualcomm insider says. “The evolution was going to be steady. Sure, it’s neat, it’s the future, but it’s not really essential for conditions now.”

But once Apple introduced a 64-bit processor, all the other phone-makers wanted one too. “Apple kicked everybody in the balls with this. It’s being downplayed, but it set off panic in the industry.”

Qualcomm just showed off their 64-bit version of the Snapdragon processor and claims it will get it into smartphones sometime in the second half of 2014, making it nearly one year behind Apple's A7 which made it into the iPhone 5s.

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