Qualcomm started a major wave of layoffs and at least several outsourcing initiatives, multiple sources claim. The company’s Layoff.com profile recently lit up with posts from people claiming to be its employees and reporting job cuts across the board. “Lots of US positions moving to India,” one source wrote. “BCG recommends layoffs,” said another, referring to the Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm which has been on Qualcomm’s retainer since at least late 2015, according to the tech giant’s own disclosures. One source claims even some middle management won’t be spared during the layoffs, though details on the situation remain slim. By most accounts, the cuts will be made official by the end of the year, possibly in late October when Qualcomm is expected to report its quarterly financials.
In recent years, the application processors and SoCs used in consumer electronics have become more and more efficient, and consumers also hope that electronic products will have longer working hours. To this end, Power Management IC (PMIC) designs are beginning to evolve toward high integration, efficiency, and flexibility.
Qualcomm’s portfolio is unlikely to be affected by any layoffs — regardless of how widespread the latest ones are purported to be — in the immediate term. Long-term ramifications of aggressive outsourcing and cost-cutting could impact the quality of its products and the new layoffs come at a relatively dangerous time as the world is currently “between Gs” and Qualcomm has yet to entrench itself in the emerging 5G segment like it did with 4G a decade ago. Without best-in-class and easy-to-deploy solutions, the company is risking ceding some of its wireless market share to competitors, though it may have gotten bolder by the fact that one of its largest rivals — Huawei — essentially got bared from doing any large-scale business in the U.S. and Android manufacturers looking to sell handsets in the West still have little choice but to continue buying and licensing its solutions.
In summary, electronic products continue to develop toward high computing, small size, and low power consumption, and PMICs must therefore have higher integration, higher efficiency, and higher flexibility. PMIC suppliers have been working on developing next-generation solutions this year. For example, Maxim Integrated has recently introduced a new generation of high-performance PMICs for AR/VR, e-sports, drones, and machines. Learning and other fields to meet market demand.