Qualcomm President: The 5G Future Is Coming and It's 'Top Priority'
*By Carlo Versano*
Qualcomm's presence at this year's CES was notable for some new innovations beyond its mobile sweet spot ー an automotive "digital cockpit platform" that brings premium on-board tech to even entry-priced cars, for oneー but as president Cristiano Amon told Cheddar's Hope King: The future is all about 5G.
"The number one priority in the company right now is this transition to 5G," he said.
The move to 5G wireless technology has been the buzz of the mobile industry for the past year, but it's about to finally go mainstream, according to Amon. More than 30 Android devices launching in 2019 will be 5G capable, just as coverage spreads to major cities. He expects consumers to start feeling the full benefit of 5G just in time for Black Friday and holiday shopping season.
The push for 5G supremacy in the U.S. has led to some marketing sleight-of-hand from the carriers, but the smartphone market is too mature for that now, Amon said. "They expect real 5G, with the performance, on at least 10x improvement or more."
That maturity is especially evident in the Chinese market, Amon said, where premium-tier phone upgrades are offsetting the pain from tariffs. Qualcomm remains locked in a legal battle with Apple ($APPL), which it has accused of stealing tech secrets.
"One way or another," that will get resolved, he said.
In the meantime, "China is excited about 5G and we're excited about China."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/qualcomms-cristiano-amon-showcases-a-i-equipped-car-cockpit).
Most members of the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate setting committee supported further reductions to its key interest rate this year, minutes from last month’s meeting showed.
Sinead O’Sullivan breaks down Taylor Swift’s genius marketing for The Life of a Showgirl, which just set the record for most albums sold in a single week.
Markets are emerging from a turbulent Q3. Horizon’s Mike Dickson shares insights on interest rates, small caps, and where investors should look in Q4 and beyond
Bambu Ventures's Kyle Pretsch dives into Lemonaid’s $10M buyout, down from 23andMe’s $400M price tag, and what’s next after Chrome Co.’s dramatic pivot.
Former Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers learned all about technology’s volatile highs and lows as a veteran of the internet’s early boom days during the late 1990s and the ensuing meltdown that followed the mania. And now he is seeing potential signs of the cycle repeating with another transformative technology in artificial intelligence. Chambers is trying take some of the lessons he learned while riding a wave that turned Cisco into the world's most valuable company in 2000 before a crash hammered its stock price and apply them as an investor in AI startups. He recently discussed AI's promise and perils during an interview with The Associated Press.
Grove Collaborative’s CEO shares how the company is reinventing everyday goods with sustainability at the core and working toward a plastic-free future.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shares plans for affordable housing, community-led growth, and why private and public grocery stores could be key to food equity.