While Nokia may have dropped hints about Qualcomm alternatives for future Windows Phone devices, STMicroelectronics CEO Carlo Bozotti has basically confirmed that ST-Ericsson will be one of two chipset suppliers for Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 phones.
Nokia will start off by using the U8500 chipset. This is a dual-core SoC currently running at 1.2GHz that supports HSPA+, GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The chipset also promises to support 1080p HD video recording, 20MP still cameras, 3D graphics display, and multi-channel audio. Its power-efficient design could offer up to 120 hours of audio playback or 12 hours of full HD video playback on a single 1000mAh battery charge.
ST-Ericsson is working with seven of the top nine handset manufacturers, suggesting that we could see the U8500 chipset in other devices perhaps as early as the second half of this year.