Lenovo’s commitment to Internet-linked mobile devices apparently also now includes semiconductor development.

According to a report in the EE Times, Lenovo has decided to design its own chips to operate its growing number of smartphone and tablet devices.

EE Times, citing a source with “direct knowledge” of Lenovo’s efforts, said the company plans to hire “about 100 engineers” by this summer.

All will be based in China.

Lenovo already has a small cadre of chip designers and has for several years, EE Times said.

“This initiative appears to be driven by the company’s desire to control its own destiny in smartphones and tablets–a la HiSilicon at Huawei,” the publication said. HiSilicon is a chip division of Huawei, it noted.

In the past, Lenovo has relied on a variety of chip providers.

The EE report can be read online.

Lenovo operates its executive headquarters in Morrisville.

[LENOVO ARCHIVE: Check out seven years of Lenovo stories as reported in WRAL Tech Wire.]