Qualcomm buys power IC vendor Summit Micro

Dylan McGrath

June 18, 2012

Dylan McGrath

SAN FRANCISCO—Qualcomm Inc. said Monday (June 18) it acquired programmable power IC vendor Summit Microelectronics Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

Qualcomm (San Diego) said the acquisition would enhance the company's power management roadmap. As a result of the acquisition, Qualcomm will be able to offer a portfolio that will address a broader set of customers and complex design challenges, the company said.

All employees of Summit Microelectronics have joined Qualcomm's CDMA Technologies division, Qualcomm said.

Summit (Sunnyvale, Calif.) provides flexible, highly integrated power management solutions combining precision power regulation with sophisticated digital control in a single chip, Qualcomm said. Summit's  fast-charging solutions are found in a variety of leading mobile phones, tablets and e-readers, Qualcomm said.

"Summit Microelectronics brings key expertise, technology, products, and design wins in battery charging and DC-DC converters," said Steve Mollenkopf, Qualcomm's president and COO, in a statement. "This acquisition enhances the competitiveness of Qualcomm's chipset solutions and enables us to provide our customers with industry leading power management and charging performance."