What is Broadcom, and why is it trying to buy Qualcomm?
Amid its legal battles with Apple and the United States Federal Trade Commission, chipmaker Qualcomm today was offered an unsolicited bid by Broadcom for a $130 billion acquisition. Qualcomm’s brand is often associated with the Snapdragon chips that power gadgets like the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG V30, and Google’s Daydream VR. Consumers are less familiar with the name Broadcom. So what is it, and why is it trying to acquire the troubled chipmaker?
Like Qualcomm, Broadcom is a semiconductor company that manufactures chips and computer components that support smartphones, laptops, data centers, set-top boxes, game consoles, and more. The company also manufactures LEDs, displays, and network / Bluetooth adaptors. Broadcom is considered a rival...