Like most wireless giants, Qualcomm badly needs 5G to happen quickly, to offset decline in other markets. The chip provider is looking on the bright side, despite its many challenges elsewhere, and says it is expecting the first 5G smartphone in the first half of 2019. Speaking on its recent fiscal Q1 earnings call, the firm’s new president, Cristiano Amon, said: “We are working with a number of OEMs that have smartphone launches in the first half of next year.” Qualcomm is working with AT&T, Ericsson, China Mobile, Nokia, NTT Docomo, Orange, SK Telecom, Sprint, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone “and now, Samsung”, he said, on 5G network and device launches. AT&T has talked about a 5g ‘puck’ which it will…