Even though every blog is reporting that Qualcomm has started shipping dual core Snapdragon chipset, the truth is Qualcomm has started sampling first dual core Snapdragon chipsets, and not mass production or shipment of the chipset. In fact, Qualcomm is not even showing the chipset to the media at Computex 2010. Nonetheless, it is a very important development as the new chipsets are the first sampling dual core chip based on next gen ARM Cortex A9 architecture. 

The Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM8260 and MSM8660 have two enhanced processor cores running at up to 1.2GHz. Targeted at enabling high-end smartphones, the MSM8x60 solutions are third-generation chipsets from the Company's expanded Snapdragon platform.

"Qualcomm's first-generation Snapdragon chipsets set a new standard for advanced smartphones and smartbook devices, and our second-generation solutions are already shipping in volume," said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.  "We are very excited by the innovation our customers are already showing as they begin designing products based on our dual-core MSM8260 and MSM8660 chipsets."

The MSM8260 for HSPA+ and MSM8660 for multi-mode HSPA+/CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. B feature two enhanced CPU cores running at up to 1.2GHz for high levels of Web application and multimedia performance, including a powerful GPU with 3D/2D acceleration engines for Open GLES 2.0 and Open VG 1.1 acceleration, 1080p video encode/decode, dedicated low power audio engine, integrated low power GPS, and support for 24-bit WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution displays.

Qualcomm will also ship QSD8672 – a dual core Snapdragon chipset running at up to 1.5GHz aimed at tablets and smartbooks market by end of this year. Qualcomm has just started sampling the new dual core chipsets and our sources say that smartphones based on the chipset should hit the market as early as first half of 2011.