New Delhi, July 25 -- Qualcomm Inc., the biggest maker of smartphone processors, plans to increase prices by a percentage in the double digits, a move that's likely to ripple through much of the tech industry.

The San Diego-based company sent a letter to customers Friday informing them of price hikes, according to a copy of the document seen by Bloomberg News. The rise will go into effect for products shipped after Sept. 1, Qualcomm told clients.

The company said it had exhausted its ability to absorb higher costs from suppliers and had made attempts to secure alternative components from new sources.

Like the rest of the tech industry, Qualcomm is suffering from historic supply shortages - a crunch that is hitting everything from smart...