July 30 (Reuters) - Qualcomm ( QCOM ) projected

current-quarter sales above Wall Street expectations on

Wednesday, wagering that growing AI capabilities in consumer

devices will boost demand for its semiconductors despite ongoing

global trade uncertainties.

The San Diego-based company is the world's largest supplier

of modem chips that enable smartphones to connect to wireless

data networks.

It forecast revenue between $10.3 billion and $11.1 billion

for the September quarter, compared with estimates of $10.64

billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Qualcomm ( QCOM ) has not seen signs of customers ordering chips

ahead of normal seasonals schedules to try to get ahead of

possible tariffs, Chief Financial Officer Akash Palkhiwala told

Reuters in an interview.

U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies have so

far provided exemptions for smartphones and semiconductor chips

from these levies. But Trump has issued warnings about potential

sector-specific tariffs targeting the industry, stating as

recently as this month that he would "soon announce tariffs on

semiconductors."

The tariff situation remains highly fluid and complex, with

existing Chinese electronics tariffs still in effect despite the

exemptions granted for certain categories.

Global smartphone shipments climbed 1% in the second

quarter, according to research firm IDC, as Apple, a key

Qualcomm ( QCOM ) customer, accelerated shipments to avoid potential

tariff impacts.

Still, the company said its chip segment revenue from

customers excluding Apple were up more than 15% so far this

fiscal year.

Qualcomm ( QCOM ) CEO Cristiano Amon said he expects to the

company's business in supplying chips to augmented-reality

glasses such as Meta Ray-Bans to expand.

"We have all the designs that matter right now - the

number of designs like the Meta glasses is now up to 19, and

that continues to accelerate," Amon told Reuters in an

interview.

Qualcomm ( QCOM ) forecast fiscal fourth-quarter sales chip segment

sales at a midpoint of $9.3 billion, compared with analyst

estimates of $9.19 billion, according to Visible Alpha data.

The chipmaker reported sales of $10.37 billion for its third

quarter ended June 29, beating estimates of $10.35 billion.

The company's third-quarter adjusted profit of $2.77 per

share compared with estimates of profit of $2.71 per share.

It expects adjusted profits in the fiscal fourth quarter of

about $2.85 per share, above estimates of $2.83 per share.