To make matters worse, Intel has stopped development of SoFIA mobile SoCs. This tech was support to pair Atom processors with Intel modems for use in low-end mobiles and tablets. It looks to us that Chipzilla does not think it is possible to compete against ARM's dominance in the mobiles and tablets market.

Instead Intel will look at developing technology at 'growth markets' including the data centre, IoT, memory and FPGA businesses.
Chipzilla told AnandTech that changes included cancelling the Broxton platform (for phones and tablets) as well as SoFIA 3GX, SoFIA LTE and SoFIA LTE2 commercial platforms.

“This will to enable us to move resources to products that deliver higher returns and advance our strategy. These changes are effective immediately," the spokesman said.

Intel has not done very well in mobile chips and it cost it a bomb. Intel's mobile division lost $3.1 billion in 2013 and $4.2 billion in 2014. It was so bad that in recent financial reports this financial data was obfuscated by rolling the mobile division was rolled into a new Client Computing Division.

It is a pity really. Broxton was going to use Intel’s newest generation 14nm Atom core, Goldmont. Goldmont cores are not going away as we expect them to be part of the Apollo Lake project. These will be for Cloudbooks and 2-in-1s.

Since Broxton Atom cancellations are only for phones and tablet markets so the technology might end up in lower-end hybrids. Chipzilla appears to be banking on its upcoming 5G modems. It is unlikely that many will mourn the exit of Intel from this market. The only one we think might be harmed is Microsoft which was rumoured to want to use the tech for its x86 Surface Phones and the Surface 3 successor.