(iTers News) - Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, or SMIC, a Chinese foundry chip maker proves its 28nm chip-making process a technology and business success. The Chinese contract chip maker is now fabricating mobile SoC giant Qualcomm Technologies' Snapdragon 410 processor using its 28nm node technology.

Even if Samsung Electronics of Korea and TSMC of Taiwan are far ahead of the learning curve working with 14nm FinFET and 16nm FinFET 3D chip-making process, respectively, SMIC's successful rampup to the 28nm node technology marks a major breakthrough in the Chinese semiconductor chip industry's long struggle to become oen of the world's largest wafer fabrication hubs.

As Qualcomm's Snapdragon 400 processor is now being widely used with mainstream smartphones makers, SMIC's technology prowess promises to open up new market opportunities, allowing the contract chip maker to sign up more foundry works from other fabless chip makers.

[Derek Aberle, president of Qualcomm Incorporated, and Dr. Zixue Zhou, Chairman of SMIC, make a phone call using a Chinese brand Smartphone that runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processors comes integrated with i4G LTE baseband chip. Compared with a 40nm technologies, the 28nm process technology allows the Snapdragon 400 chip to pack twice the logic density, perform tasks 20 to 30% faster, and consume 30 to 50% less power.

Dr. Tzu-Yin Chiu, CEO and executive director of SMIC said, "The first batch that used SMIC's 28nm node performed well, achieving recognition from Qualcomm Technologies and mobile phone manufacturers. This is an important moment for the industry's entire ecosystem, because for the first time, China's mainland manufacturers can now introduce mainstream smartphones which is a result of the close collaboration between SMIC and Qualcomm Technologies. This marks the start of a new era of 28nm advanced mobile phone chip manufacturing inChina."

Derek Aberle, president of Qualcomm Incorporated said, "The Snapdragon 410 processor, manufactured using SMIC 28nm process technology, is a leading chipset designed for the latest generation of high-volume smartphones and tablets. Achieving commercial usage in mainstream smartphones with these chipsets demonstrates the significant progress made by Qualcomm Technologies and SMIC in our advanced process node and wafer fabrication cooperation."