ZDNet: Qualcomm's E-Ink killer-How Do You Mass Produce Mirasol

[kjk]

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/qualco...-mirasol/37838

Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm’s CDMA Technologies:

The product itself has been getting pretty positive feedback from customers, and now the problem is really how do you build it. And I think we need to get that figured out and advise you guys as to when you should think about that being a significant business. But we’re positive on how it looks. I think it’s a little early for us to be guiding you to a particular revenue target and things like that, but I think we’ll be in a better position to do that in the upcoming months.

So, its a cool tech, but they still have to figure out how to actually make them in quantity?

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by kjk

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/qualco...-mirasol/37838

Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm’s CDMA Technologies:



So, its a cool tech, but they still have to figure out how to actually make them in quantity?

Based on the tone and wording of that VP talking in corporate-speak, it would be a miracle if we see a Mirasol display in any commercial product by the summer of 2011. It certainly does look like a viable product, but reading between the lines of what that VP is saying, it isn't going to hit the shelves anytime soon. Most likely it will be late 2011 to early 2012 before you see Mirasol e-readers. Companies like Amazon aren't going to waste any serious time on something like this until they can be assured of reliable mass-production numbers and unit costs. "We think we've got this figured out" coming from a Qualcomm EVP isn't the same corporate-speak as "Our production facility is operational and capable of producing X number of units per month into the supply chain."

[Graham]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

"We think we've got this figured out" coming from a Qualcomm EVP isn't the same corporate-speak as "Our production facility is operational and capable of producing X number of units per month into the supply chain."

And he didn't even say "We think we've got this figured out"; he said "And I think we need to get that figured out"... which is a bit depressing.

Graham

[cmdahler]

I was just skimming that article and misinterpreted that. You're totally right: and since that's what he really said, in corp-speak it basically means there's no chance for a Mirasol device in 2011. Summer 2012 is about the earliest realistic possibility if they haven't even figured out their manufacturing process yet.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

I was just skimming that article and misinterpreted that. You're totally right: and since that's what he really said, in corp-speak it basically means there's no chance for a Mirasol device in 2011. Summer 2012 is about the earliest realistic possibility if they haven't even figured out their manufacturing process yet.

Steve is the executive VP of CDMA technologies (QCT) where production volumes are in millions per week. He is not directly involved in the Qualcomm MEMS division, so he may be a bit far removed from the action in the MEMS division. Jim Cathey, VP of business development for Qualcomm’s MEMS division had this to say concerning Steve's comments:

According to Cathey, despite what Mollenkopf’s comments implied, the mirasol fabs are up and running, and samples are out with the company’s OEM partners. The confusion, he suggested, was down to volumes: Mollenkopf was “thinking in billions” which, as a new technology, mirasol isn’t yet reaching. However, Qualcomm are on track to make their first shipments before the end of the year, and Cathey expects commercial products to arrive in Q1 2011.

http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-mi...-2011-1197307/

[J. Strnad]

Any word on cost? Weight?

If the device is priced like the iPad (which, to a very cheap person like me, means "high") then I wouldn't be putting away my Kobo anytime soon.

Still, I'm all for a reflective, full-color display! Something to yearn for.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Any word on cost? Weight?

If the device is priced like the iPad (which, to a very cheap person like me, means "high") then I wouldn't be putting away my Kobo anytime soon.

Still, I'm all for a reflective, full-color display! Something to yearn for.

There's no word on a tablet or a reader. Qualcomm is making a display. Conjecture on devices based on Mirasol are completely devoid of evidence. Their first commercial product is supposed to be a 5.7" ebook reader type screen. It might be fair to assume they are looking to deliver it in a chassis of similar size to current-generation ebook readers, but nobody knows for sure, and there's no evidence so far for any speculation as to price or specifications of a final Mirasol-based reader.

[Dulin's Books]

At SID they were talking about announcing a partner/customer in the 3rd quarter who would making/selling the 5.7 inch device in 4th quarter/1st quarter 2011.

If they are saying now that they still have to figure out how to mass produce the displays I cant understand how they felt comfortable with those statements in May.

[Dulin's Books]

Follow up article with slashgear confirms they are in small volume production now with samples shipping to industry customers. http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-mi...-2011-1197307/ and that they are working with several OEMS

They continue to say there will be devices for purchase by consumers in Q1 2011 and Qualcomm has an event still planned for next month. Presumably that is when Mirasol will announce the manufacturing partner(s)

[Dave Berk]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/q...r-client-alre/

Well, if this isn't a statement of intent, we don't know what is. Those good old market sources are reporting today that Qualcomm has set aside a cool $2 billion to build a new Mirasol display production plant in Taiwan. The chipmaker already has a Mirasol facility in Longtan, a joint venture with Foxlink, but is said to be the sole investor in this new build. The whole thing has apparently been spurred on by a major client having "already started the design-in process" after seeing production samples of the 5.7-inch, low power, color display.

Here's to hoping

[Ben Thornton]

The iPad nano?

[Fbone]

The screens would need to cost a fortune to recoup $2 billions.

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by Fbone

The screens would need to cost a fortune to recoup $2 billions.

Or they would have to sell an awful lot. There have been 132m (IIRC) NDS sold, 100m iOS devices. It's not the right ball-park for Kindle sales, I wouldn't think. Mobile phones perhaps?

[Dulin's Books]

it doesnt say the new plant will cost 2 billion. only that they have set aside that much.

[HarryT]

Why does every new product have to be described as a "something-killer"? There's room in the market for multiple different display technologies; the arrival of a new one doesn't mean that something else is going to be "killed".