Fabless semiconductor company MediaTek released a sample smartphone featuring its octa-core processor on November 4, indicating that customers will begin mass production of octa-core smartphones by the end of this year, as reported by China Times. On November 20, MediaTek will officially launch its octa-core smartphone solutions, which will adopt TSMC's 28-nm HPM (High Performance for Mobile Applications) process technology. The two companies will have further cooperation on 20- and 16-nm technologies. MediaTek is upbeat about the tablet and smartphone markets in the fourth quarter, and plans to expand its reach to mid-range and high-end segments, according to the report.