Stating with information on Superior Microarchitecture for thermal and power efficiency, we’re reminded instantly of Texas Instruments outline of OMAP 5 with their “Thermal Budget”, heat being the key in both cases. This is a good sign for every user as now that this heat factor is being pushed by several chipset makers as a big issue, our handsets will be cooler very, very soon. The as well, of coursebe keeping it cool at the same time as being able to take on a wide variety of devices across the planet as well, of course. Head to the Q and A section of this post for more information on the S4 – there’s also the next generation Gobi modem from Qualcomm getting prepared for the future as well for LTE superiority.

Qualcomm’s 5th generation Gobi processor is being shown as having already a third generation of LTE-capable connectivity. The first generation is the World’s First integrated LTE/3G chipset, the second was the World’s First mobile chipset with those same abilities, and the next generation is coming soon – with the ability to utilize LTE with a whole new level of efficiency. Qualcomm’s solutions with Gobi currently support over 40 RF bands from USA to Australia up to Japan and throughout Europe. This new Gobi modem offers up MDM 9×25, this bringing LTE Cat4 at 150Mbps, HSPA+ 84 Mbps – faster than ever, Cat 4 data rates without contiguous 20MHz.

Qualcomm is bringing their LTE abilities into the future, having stated with LTE for data only, moving then on to where we are now, LTE for data with 3G/3G for voice. The long term voice solution for handsets is LTE VoIP, that is simultaneous LTE VoIP and rich data services, and +CSFB for roaming. If you’ve got to have it all, you’ve got to have Qualcomm in the future.

The 5th Generation Gobi Embedded Data Connectivity Reference Platform is the first to support multiple LTE bands on a single device. Eventually this system will be bringing said technology to the whole world as well as to a wide variety of devices, not just mobile smartphones and tablets. Without a doubt Qualcomm will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of fully integrated mobile devices.

In the question and answer part of the conference here at the Snapdragon Update meeting when asked about graphics processing with DX9 vs DX11 used by competitors, Chandhok responded with a simple “I can’t hand you a Windows 8 device and say, here, benchmark it, but I will say that the rumors that our performance is not where it should be are not true.”

Asked about partnering with Windows Phone at the S4 processor, Chandhok noted that “Windows phone takes advantage of our chip in a way that’s amazing. They take the things that we design and exploit them to the greatest extent.”

A question about Windows 8 came up, asking specifically if there will be a quad-core notebook in the future, Qualcomm inside. Chandhok spoke:

“I’m not sure what desktop means anymore. The phone I have in my pocket is more powerful than most of the desktops I’ve had in my lifetime. … The compute power is there [already] for what you’re going to do on the desktop. It’s going to be a really interesting blend, what you’re going to see, it’s just how it gets treated – 2012 2013 is going to be a really exciting time.”

There was a question on Qualcomm GameCommand, a question asking about optimized games and developers for the future for that program. Chandhok responded:

“We ship more GPUs than anyone else in the world. There’s going to be a natural partnership throughout the future. … look to us to be more specific about that between now and the near future, we’ve got some programs that’ll be great to look forward to soon.”

Stick with us here on SlashGear for all the Qualcomm and Mobile World Congress news you can handle the next few days here in Barcelona and beyond through our [Qualcomm] and [MWC 2012] portals. We’ll be here all week!

An interesting proposition comes from 9to5Mac as well, that this could be, even though it’s not mentioned, prepared to work with iOS as well for the iPad 3 this spring. Nearly every 3G iOS-carrying device since the release of the Verizon iPhone uses the Gobi platform from Qualcomm – this excluding only one: the AT&T iPad using a legacy chip from Infineon. Sources argue that this makes chip all but a guarantee that the next Apple device will have LTE capabilities upon it.

Qualcomm is announcing both the MDM9615 and the MDM9215 wireless baseband modems, the technology allowing all of the connectivity listed above. At the launch of this fifth generation Gobi platform, hardware partners will be Huawei, Novatel Wireless, Option, Sierra Wireless, and ZTE. Each of these groups will be collaborating on devices of several form factors and configurations across the nation. Fram Akiki, senior director of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies noted the following:

“With Windows 8, we expect to see an increasing variety of mobile computing devices also in use by connected consumers around the world. Our Gobi fifth generation reference platform helps ensure that OEMs can develop products across their choice of operating systems and hardware platforms to meet the growing demand for mobile connectivity.”- Akiki

We’ll be covering Qualcomm’s every move at Mobile World Congress 2012, just as you’d expect us to, and you can follow us all through the week through our portals at [MWC 2012] as well as [Qualcomm] – seeya soon!

Despite the popularity and buzz around 4G LTE devices, Apple has refused to incorporate the technology. Current generation baseband chips with LTE support are too power hungry and require package size and power requirements exceeding what Apple has designed for its current lineup. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said before that “LTE would force design compromises we’re not willing to make.”

However, the new Qualcomm MDM 9×00 series chips are made using a 28nm process that greatly improves power efficiency. Plus, the Gobi 4000 platform is compatible with EV-DO Rev. A and B, HSPA+, and dual-carrier HSPA+., which suits Apple’s needs for a worldwide solution instead of separate variants for different regions. And since Apple’s iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPad 2 baseband chips are already from Qualcomm, it would seem a likely path to upgrade to the new more efficient Qualcomm LTE chips next year. The first of the series, MDM 9615, is due out in the first quarter of 2012.

[via Ars Technica]

Dell and Lenovo will use the Gobi 4000 series in their notebooks, meanwhile. The Dell Latitude E6420 already had LTE as an option, but will soon get the updated modem, while Lenovo will slot the Gobi into various models from its range. Novatel Wireless and Sierra Wireless, meanwhile, will use the new 3G/4G radios in their embedded modem products, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see them also show up in mobile hotspots too.

The new versions will go on sale alongside the 3G-only Gobi 3000 series. Qualcomm is also pushing the enhanced compatibility with its Snapdragon processors, including the upcoming S4 dual- and quad-core chips.

Update: Novatel Wireless tells us it will be first to market with devices using the Gobi 4000.