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Samsung's New Handset to Hit Europe
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200602/kt2006021220333111910.htm
SEOUL (Yonhap) ¤Ñ Samsung Electronics, the world's third-largest mobile phone maker, said Sunday it will introduce the world's fastest mobile phone incorporated with high-downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology in Europe next week.
The phone, equipped with the MSM6280 chip from the U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm, enables users to download music or other multimedia contents at a speed of 3.6 megabits a second.
Approximately 10 MP3 files can be downloaded within one minute at that speed, according to the company. The phone was unveiled here in January.
Samsung Electronics is to participate in the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, from Monday to Thursday. GSM is a digital mobile telephone system used mostly in Europe.
The HSDPA phone introduced at the event, with big-name phone manufacturers Nokia and Motorola in attendance, will be officially launched in the European market by the second quarter of the year.
"Samsung Electronics will introduce cutting-edge telecommunications technology to the world through the event," said Lee Ki-tae, the president of the company's mobile phone division.
02-12-2006 20:33
Gilbert- "They want a European Qualcomm, not Qualcomm Europe"
by Guy J Kewney | posted on 06 February 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/2609
Qualcomm's new European president, Andrew Gilbert, spoke of "a new consensus emerging" today in the EU community, and said "What European operators want is a way to make money." That points at Qualcomm's end-to-end expertise, including expertise in billing, said Gilbert.
Gilbert didn't challenge our comment suggesting that Qualcomm was perceived as a predatory licensing company - instead, he told NewsWireless in an exclusive interview that "the European operator community has experienced a lot of support, technical support and business support, in the last year, from Qualcomm." This, he suggested, meant that attitudes were changing.
The new 3G network in Europe is based on code division multiple access, rather than the time division multiple access system used in GSM phones. The technical challenges of making CDMA successful, said Gilbert, are now facing operators of Wideband CDMA, the 3G standard, which is a Qualcomm technology.
"There are guys on the ground who are trying to make a code technology work," said the new acceptable face of Qualcomm in Europe. "They have seen Qualcomm deal with the problems they have, and have seen Qualcomm put huge amounts of money and effort into helping them with doing this."
Gilbert acknowledged the scale of problems facing operators with their out-of-date billing systems as they transition to high data rates. "Qualcomm is one of the leaders of high speed 3G, HSDPA," he said, "and we offer a complete ecosystem, not just a technology. We are a technology company, but we also have other strengths."
And, he said, his appointment was definitely a sign that Qualcomm wanted to work with European operators. Gilbert is a Brit, and, he said: "it's a sign that the San Diego board don't just want a Qualcomm Europe, they want a European Qualcomm that does it the European way."
Qualcomm, he said, "is not just an air interface company; it's in every part of the mobile food chain. Everybody knows it's a licensing company with a lot of technology and Intellectual Property and chips. But it also has a huge suite of end to end service delivery mechanisms; Brew, all about delivering enhanced services, allowing the operator to make more money. That is not yet understood in Europe."
Speaking with his Flarion hat on, Gilbert said that he would expect Flash-OFDM to make further inroads - but, he added, with Qualcomm's expertise in making HSDPA work, he expected to build partnerships with operators who were committed to current 3G standards, as well as develop new technologies.
"The whole digital rights management issue, and how you deliver content in a multi-regional way, is also a constraint," said Gilbert. "There are a whole host of issues the mobile industry will be exposed to. If we can partner with the operators to address these issues, with what we need to deliver, then running Qualcomm Europe - it's an interesting prospect. I hope we can solve European problems. I think we will discover that there are specifically European problems, which need the European Qualcomm to tackle."
DR: Thanks for enlighten me. If I understand correctly, the demonstration of a product does not require a license to do that. However, the commercialisation will require a license.
From the February 3, 2006 print edition
EV-DO technology skips 'hot spots' but is it next big thing?
Carolyn Schuk
From the February 3, 2006 print edition
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2006/02/06/focus2.html
You're riding CalTrain to San Francisco. At the same time you're e-mailing a PowerPoint presentation to a colleague, making a VoIP call to a client in Beijing, and browsing the Web. You can do all this on a moving train because your laptop is equipped with the third generation cellular (3G) wireless technology, EV-DO -- short for Evolution Data-Optimized.
EV-DO provides continuous, high-speed wireless Internet access via the cell phone network. It's similar to the better-known wireless technology, Wi-Fi, but EV-DO supplies access without the need for a "hotspot." With EV-DO, the device is the hotspot in the same way a cell phone provides mobile connectivity.
"EV-DO really gives users a truly un-tethered experience," says Heidi Flato, Verizon Wireless's manager of public relations.
For people like real estate agents and sales reps, who are constantly on the move, EV-DO can provide a huge benefit by keeping vital business information at their fingertips where ever they are.
"What you can do at your desk you can do on the road," explains Jeremy James, senior director of corporate communications for wireless chipmaker Qualcomm, which introduced the initial design for the EV-DO standard in 1999. "You can do it on the road, on a train, in a customer's office. You don't have to go find a hotspot."
Another interesting use for EV-DO is for VoIP (Voice Over IP) phone calls. Making a VoIP call over a cell phone network may seem counter-intuitive, but for people who do business internationally, it makes whole lot of financial sense
"It's a real win," says Erik Lagerway, founder of Counterpath (formerly Xten Networks) and publisher of SIPthat.com. "If I can use VoIP, I'm paying a flat fee. I'm not paying roaming charges, no international connection fees, no peering fees. I just saved myself a boatload of money."
Internet access via cell phone networks isn't new. But in the past the data rates were slow and the quality was not what was needed for services like VoIP.
"Cell phones enabled people to connect when they were out and about," says Qualcomm's Mr. James. "But those data connections are so unsatisfactory that it wasn't useful in practical terms."
EV-DO changes that landscape according to its proponents.
The technology is based on the communication standard (CDMA) used in U.S. cell phone networks. The signal is carried on the same sites. EV-DO performance is comparable to DSL, delivering data rates up to 2Mbit/sec. Using an EV-DO equipped cell phone, PC wireless card or laptop, users connect to the Internet anywhere they can get a cell phone signal.
EV-DO also offers potentially more secure communications because it sends data as a series of small packets, sending each one independently rather than as a constant data stream -- reducing the ability of hackers to intercept a data stream.
Even where EV-DO service is unavailable, users can use the technology to connect to the existing cell phone network, and still get performance that is about twice as fast as dial-up.
EV-DO is competing with Wi-Fi for a rapidly growing market of mobile users.
For example, Sprint and Verizon are banking on EV-DO technology. Both made a big push to expand their coverage areas and have stated their intentions to provision all their network areas with EV-DO. Service plan prices range from $60 to $80 a month.
Verizon offers two EV-DO services -- BroadbandAccess for laptops and VCast, which provides delivers multimedia like short videos, 3D games and music on cell phones and pocket PC devices. It's not a stretch to imagine video cell phone calls using services like VCast.
But not everyone's convinced that EV-DO is the way to go. Some believe that Wi-Fi is going to win out for wide scale deployment in the long term.
"They serve different purposes," explains Chuck Haas, CEO of MetroFi, a Mountain View-based ISP that recently launched free Wi-Fi access in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara.
"EV-DO runs on a very expensive licensed frequency," says Mr. Haas. Wi-Fi by comparison, operates on unlicensed frequencies. "[EV-DO] Service providers need to get a return on investment which is much higher, which means much higher prices.
Mr. Haas also notes that few computers are presently equipped with EV-DO, as compared with Wi-Fi, which is virtually standard equipment for laptops these days.
Licensed frequencies translate to benefits for customers, counters Qualcomm's Mr. James.
"It's a business proposition and they [providers] own that spectrum," he explains. "They can impose policy rules, they can manage the load on the network. They can charge more for higher use."
Other EV-DO skeptics point to the fact that the devices won't work across borders. "There are two ways to solve the roaming issue," explains Qualcomm's Mr. James. "Get everyone the same technology or adapt to the network you're on. That's what's happening today. Integrating technology into the device is happening rapidly."
But it's not an all or nothing game. There's a place for each technology, depending on user requirements.
Not many consumers are going to pay the extra service and equipment costs for EV-DO, MetroFi's Mr. Haas thinks. However, "if you're a business user and you need ubiquity," he says, "EV-DO is a good solution."
Mr. James of Qualcomm also sees a place at the table for both technologies as well.
"Wi-Fi is great for local area networks -- that's why it's popular on corporate campuses and colleges. EV-DO is designed for wide area networking."
CAROLYN SCHUK is a freelance writer based in Santa Clara.
DR and Biz: Do you think the following scenario is possible? Perhaps, there might be some kind of settlement between BRCM and QCOM prior to 2/13/06? Because BRCM will demonstrate its innovative products for converged mobile devices at the 3GSM World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain, from February 13th through 16th. Demonstrations Include HSDPA, WEDGE (WCDMA + EDGE), Mobile Multimedia, Mobile TV/DVB-H, Bluetooth(R), Wi-Fi(R), VoIP, and more ...
Qualcomm "overweight," target price raised - update
Friday, January 27, 2006 3:05:20 AM ET
Prudential Financial
http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news/article_1190183.html
NEW YORK, January 27 (newratings.com) - Analyst Inder M Singh of Prudential Financial reiterates his "overweight" rating on Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.NAS). The target price has been raised from $55 to $57.
In a research note published yesterday, the analyst mentions that the company has reported its FQ1 proforma EPS in-line with the estimates and ahead of the consensus. Qualcomm said that it gained market share during the quarter, with its WCDMA chipset unit sales growing 48% q/q. Qualcomm's robust sales growth would drive the company's earnings momentum during F2H06, the analyst believes.
Goldman's top growth picks: eBay, Google, Marvell, Qualcomm and Satyam.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/359349/the_seattle_times_technology_briefs_column/index.html....
The Seattle Times Technology Briefs Column
By The Seattle Times
Jan. 16--MON DIEU! MICROSOFT SNUBBED IN FRANCE: How bad is Microsoft's standing in the world of Internet search engines?
Bad enough that MSN Search wasn't even mentioned by the French president when he listed the "American giants" competing with France's tech industry.
"We must meet the global challenge of the American giants Google and Yahoo!," Jacques Chirac said, according to The Associated Press. "Today the new geography of knowledge and cultures is being drawn. Tomorrow, that which is not available online runs the risk of being invisible to the world," the French president said.
Chirac then discussed a European response to Google -- a multimedia search engine called Quaero being developed by a European consortium including French electronics company Thomson, France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom. Some suggested the Quaero-Google rivalry could emerge as the online equivalent of the Airbus-Boeing competition. But that marginalizes Microsoft's search efforts even further.
The bad news for Google is that its cafeteria will have to start serving Freedom Fries.
QUELLE HORREUR!: What the French should worry about is America's lead in online gastronomy.
Seattle-based Allrecipes.com reported last week that holiday cooks drove its site traffic to a record 9.1 million visitors last month. That put Allrecipes.com in second place among recipe sites, trailing only Foodnetwork.com, the company said.
WHAT, NO BUBBLE?: Nobody wants to be accused of irrational exuberance, especially not Goldman Sachs.
Information-technology spending in 2006 should be "as good or slightly better than 2005," the investment banker said last week. Goldman's top growth picks: eBay, Google, Marvell, Qualcomm and Satyam.
Microsoft is a "top value" pick.
GET MAPPY: With Google Earth on the rise, Microsoft is trying to remind people that it has been providing free online geographic images for years.
Microsoft Research boss Rick Rashid made the point last week as he demonstrated an Indian map project at his operation's new Bangalore lab.
"Microsoft Research is a pioneer in the area of digital maps," Rashid said. "Its TerraServer system has provided millions of users with online access to geographically indexed map and image data since 1998."
Maybe he should rename it La TerreServer and form a partnership with Quaero.
-----
To see more of The Seattle Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.seattletimes.com.
Copyright (c) 2006, The Seattle Times
premarket isn't looking very good, but it is improving and moving upward slowly.
Qualcomm, Flarion pass antitrust review
Monday January 16, 1:13 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060116/flarion_qualcomm.html?.v=1
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc. (NasdaqNM:QCOM - News), a supplier of wireless chips and technology licenses, said on Monday that its proposed purchase of wireless broadband technology firm Flarion Technologies passed an antitrust review and the deal was expected to close in the 'next few days'.
Qualcomm had agreed to buy Flarion to boost its wireless technology portfolio in a cash and stock deal worth about $600 million.
The Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice has ended its review of the proposed merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, which requires some parties to allow the antitrust agencies to determine whether to object to the transaction, Qualcomm said.
QUALCOMM and Flarion Announce Termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino Review of Proposed Merger
Monday January 16, 12:00 pm ET
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM - News), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, and Flarion Technologies, a pioneer and leading developer of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access (OFDMA) technology and the inventor of FLASH-OFDM® technology for mobile broadband Internet protocol (IP) services, announced that on January 13, 2006 the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice terminated its review of the proposed merger of the two companies under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The Act requires parties to certain acquisitions to notify the antitrust authorities in advance of the acquisition and to observe a waiting period to allow the antirust agencies to determine whether to object to the transaction. The termination of the Antitrust Division's review of the merger means that the requirements of the Act have been satisfied, and QUALCOMM and Flarion expect to close the merger in the next few days.
ADVERTISEMENT
As previously announced, QUALCOMM will pay approximately $600 million in QUALCOMM stock and cash, including the assumption of options and warrants at fair value. Upon the satisfaction of certain milestones, QUALCOMM may also pay an additional $205 million in the form of cash and QUALCOMM stock.
Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., Flarion Technologies has developed and deployed FLASH-OFDM mobile broadband since 2000. Flarion's product line consists of the RadioRouter® base station, FLASH-OFDM modems, embedded chipsets and system software to create an end-to-end network for mobile operators (http://www.flarion.com).
QUALCOMM Incorporated (http://www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2005 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the ticker symbol QCOM.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA is deployed, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2005, and most recent Form 10-Q.
In connection with the pending transaction, on August 19, 2005 QUALCOMM filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing an Information Statement for the stockholders of Flarion. Flarion stockholders can obtain the Registration Statement, the Information Statement and any other relevant filed documents for free at the SEC's Web site (www.sec.gov). These documents can also be obtained for free from QUALCOMM's Investor Relations department (email: ir@qualcomm.com or phone: 1-858-658-4813).
QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. FLASH-OFDM is a registered trademark of Flarion Technologies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
QUALCOMM Contacts:
Jeremy James, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-651-1641
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
or
Bill Davidson, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
Flarion Contact:
Ronny Haraldsvik, Marketing
Phone: 1-831-648-1214
Email: ronny@flarion.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: QUALCOMM Incorporated
EU Demands Patent-Royalty Details in Qualcomm Probe, People Say
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=a28dzhqHDZgk&refer=europe
Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- European regulators asked Qualcomm Inc. competitors for information on licensing conditions in an investigation into how the U.S. company charged for patents, said four people close to the probe.
The regulators, who want more data before pursuing the case, sent a letter late last month to users of Qualcomm's patents asking for details on royalties, said the people, who asked not to be identified because of confidentiality agreements. That's after six companies including Nokia Oyj and Ericsson AB on Oct. 28 accused Qualcomm of abusing its dominant position and charging ``excessive'' royalties.
``This is something that investors need to be aware of and to factor in as a risk,'' said Cody Acree, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus Inc. in Baltimore who rates Qualcomm as a ``hold.''
The patents in the Qualcomm probe are for so-called third- generation wireless technology. The European Commission can take action against companies for abusing their market position, including fines of as much as 10 percent of sales. The regulator found that Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software company, abused its position in the personal-computer market and imposed a record 497 million-euro ($600 million) fine in March 2004.
The companies must respond to the commission's requests. The regulator will study the answers as well as Qualcomm's response, and decide whether to file charges, reach a settlement or drop the case. The process may take several years.
October Complaint
The complaint was filed with the commission, the 25-nation European Union's antitrust regulator in Brussels, on Oct. 26. The other complainants are Broadcom Corp., NEC Corp., Texas Instruments Inc. and a Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. unit.
A spokesman representing the complaining companies declined to comment or give his name. Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd and Qualcomm spokeswoman Christine Trimble also had no comment.
Ericsson spokesman Peter Olofsson said he had ``no information'' about the EU asking his company for details on licensing conditions. Nokia spokeswoman Arja Suominen declined to comment and Broadcom spokesman Bill Blanning couldn't immediately be reached. Texas Instruments press officers didn't return messages left on their answering machines.
In the works for almost a decade, third-generation telephones capable of making video calls and downloading music have been marketed across Europe for more than a year by companies including Vodafone Group Plc. The market for such phones, which use double or triple the number of chips found in current models, may be worth $40 billion by 2009, according to Boston-based researcher Yankee Group Research.
Licensing
Qualcomm, the world's No. 2 maker of mobile-telephone chips, is expected to generate 35 percent of its revenue and 65 percent of its profit from licensing its mobile-phone technology in 2006, Brian Modoff, an analyst at Deutsche Bank in San Francisco, said by phone. He rates the shares a ``buy.''
San Diego-based Qualcomm is most dominant in chips based on a technology called Code-Division, Multiple-Access, or CDMA, which is used in networks operated by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp., two of the three largest U.S. wireless carriers. Qualcomm also sells chips for the newer wideband code division multiple access, or WCDMA, technology that allows for higher speed Internet connections and video.
In the complaint, Qualcomm's competitors said the company overcharges for WCDMA royalties. They said Qualcomm, led by Chief Executive Officer Paul Jacobs, imposes the same royalty rate on WCDMA handsets as it does for CDMA handsets, even though it contributed less technology to the WCDMA standard.
In addition to licensing its technology, Qualcomm makes about 65 percent of its revenue and 35 percent of its profit by selling chips for mobile phones, Modoff said.
The rivals' second charge is that Qualcomm discriminates when selling chips to handset makers. The company offers lower royalty rates to handset customers who buy chips exclusively from Qualcomm, the competitors said.
The reported allegations are ``factually inaccurate and legally meritless,'' Qualcomm said in an Oct. 28 statement. Qualcomm pointed out that it's granted 130 licenses to companies, including five of the six claimants.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Matthew Newman in Brussels at Mnewman6@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: January 13, 2006 13:42 EST
LG, Samsung unveil DVB-H, Media FLO phones
Sean Shim
EE Times
(01/02/2006 8:59 AM EST)
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175800374
SEOUL, South Korea — Battling to preempt the world’s mobile broadcasting-enabled phone market, LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. simultaneously announced Monday (Jan. 2) they have developed the first handset models based on the DVB-H and Media FLO mobile broadcasting standards.
LG said in a statement that it will unveil its DVB-H (digital video broadcasting-handheld) and Media FLO (forward link only) phones at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week.
The DVB-H standard, developed by Nokia Corp, supports wireless communications frameworks such as GSM, GPRS and W-CDMA, which collectively cover 70 percent of the global mobile telecommunications service market.
LG said that unlike the existing DVB-H terminals based on so-called Smart Phone technology, its handset model receives QVGA-level DVB-H broadcasting content.
It added its Media FLO phone was designed to satisfy the Qualcomm-led Media FLO standard based on the synchronous 3G mobile telecommunications technology, dubbed CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO.
LG expected its Media FLO phone to get a boost in the United States as Verizon Wireless, the second-biggest mobile phone operator in the country, plans to launch Media FLO-based broadcasting services in September.
Shortly after LG’s announcement, Samsung Electronics, the world's third-largest handset maker, also said that it has developed its own Media FLO phones, also based on the CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO technology, and will demonstrate them at CES.
Samsung claims that it has completed developing its mobile handset line-up geared to all broadcasting standards.
There are currently four mobile broadcasting standards in the world– South Korea’s digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), Media FLO of the U.S., DVB-H of Europe and Japan’s ISDB-T. The Japanese technology is only for domestic use.
Leading the world’s mobile broadcasting services, South Korea launched satellite and terrestrial DMB in May and December, respectively, last year.
The two Korean mobile phone makers’ neck-and-neck competition reflects their aggressive move to make inroads into the European and American markets where mobile broadcasting services are poised to kick off this year.
Qualcomm part of deal for cell service in Europe
By Kathryn Balint
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 29, 2005
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20051229-9999-1b29qcom.html
Vodafone Group, the world's largest wireless carrier, announced yesterday that it will partner with Samsung and San Diego-based Qualcomm to provide high-speed cellular service in Europe next year.
Vodafone will use cell phones made by Samsung, a South Korean cell-phone maker, which in turn will buy semiconductors from Qualcomm, the world's second-largest maker of chips for cell phones.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The partnership is an important step for Qualcomm in making inroads in the market for chips that power cell phones using a technology known as wideband code division multiple access, or WCDMA.
Qualcomm declined to comment on the deal.
The company made its mark in the wireless industry with its CDMA technology. Qualcomm supplies about 90 percent of the chips that run CDMA cell phones and collects royalties on the sale of phones using its technology.
About one in five cell phones in the world uses the CDMA technology. But virtually all of the rest of the world's cell phones eventually will migrate to WCDMA technology.
Qualcomm stands to collect royalties on the sales of WCDMA because it incorporates some of the company's patented technology.
But Qualcomm doesn't have a corner on the market for WCDMA chips as it does with CDMA chips. The company is competing to supply chips in the 80 percent of the wireless industry where, until recently, it hasn't done business.
Michael King, a San Diego-based analyst with the Gartner market research firm, said the partnership among the three companies will help Qualcomm gain a foothold in the WCDMA market for chips.
"It's certainly good news for both Samsung and Qualcomm," he said.
King said industry analysts have long expected Samsung and Qualcomm to team up on phones using WCDMA technology. Samsung is one of Qualcomm's largest customers for CDMA chips.
"They've been such good allies," King said. "Seeing that they've signed up to use Qualcomm's chips is not such a big surprise."
Last month, Qualcomm expanded its relationship with Samsung in a deal that allows the South Korean company to make cell-phone chips under the Qualcomm brand.
That deal is important to both companies. It allows Samsung to diversify by contracting out its chip-making services. For Qualcomm, the agreement will help the company meet rising demand for chips in cell phones.
Around the world, wireless carriers are upgrading their networks to accommodate video, games, music and other applications. Earlier this month, Cingular Wireless, the largest carrier in the United States, launched its new high-speed service in 16 markets, including San Diego.
Cingular's network uses the same technology that Vodafone plans to deploy. Vodafone has said it plans to launch its faster service next year.
Gartner predicts the upgrade to faster networks by wireless carriers will result in a surge of shipments of phones that run on the technology Vodafone will use, from 6.3 million next year to 102 million in 2009.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathryn Balint: (619) 293-2848; kathryn.balint@uniontrib.com
FSA Announces Winners for 2005 Awards
Monday December 12, 8:00 am ET
Awards Recognize Excellence in Fabless Sector
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051212/20051212005021.html?.v=1
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2005--FSA, the voice of the global fabless business model, announces the winners for its 2005 awards, presented at the 2005 FSA Awards Dinner Celebration on Thursday, December 8, 2005 in Santa Clara, Calif.
The fabless community, suppliers and semiconductor financial and industry analysts selected the Most Respected Private and Public Fabless Company Award winners by identifying the company they most respect in terms of product, vision and future opportunities. This year's public company winner is Marvell and private company winner is AuthenTec.
FSA's Venture Capital Advisory Board selected the Fabless Start-Up to Watch Award winner by identifying the company that has demonstrated the greatest likelihood of achieving the next phase of growth. The 2005 winner is SiTime.
FSA and financial analysts evaluated the health of public fabless semiconductor companies traded on U.S. Exchanges by comparing a number of financial indices to determine the winner of this year's Best Financially Managed Company Award, QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies.
Companies that doubled either revenue or net income over eight consecutive quarters ending June 2005 are eligible to receive the Outstanding Financial Performance by Public and Private Fabless Companies Awards. Public company winners include CSR; M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd.; Marvell; NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.; NVIDIA Corporation; PortalPlayer, Inc. and Solomon Systech (International) Limited. Private company winners are Cavium Networks, Silicon Optix, Inc. and ViXS Systems, Inc.
Semiconductor financial analysts from two top-tier firms selected the Favorite Fabless Picks Awards based on historical and projected data. The 2005 winners are Broadcom Corporation, awarded by Mark Edelstone of Morgan Stanley, and Marvell, awarded by Arnab Chanda of Lehman Brothers.
For more detailed award criteria and a list of past award winners, visit www.fsa.org/awardsdinner.
The event was made possible through the support of this year's title sponsor, UMC, and additional sponsors including Agilent Technologies, AMI Semiconductor, ARM, ASE Group, ATI Technologies Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Cadence Design Systems, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Conexant, Ernst & Young, Jazz Semiconductor, Marvell, Morgan Stanley, NVIDIA Corporation, Oracle, QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies, Reed Electronics Group, STATS ChipPAC, Synopsys, Teradyne, TSMC and Xilinx.
About FSA:
FSA is the voice of the global fabless business model. Incorporated in 1994, FSA positively impacts the growth and return on invested capital of this business model to enhance the environment for innovation. It provides a platform for meaningful global collaboration between fabless companies and their partners; identifies and articulates opportunities and challenges to enable solutions; and provides research, resources, publications and survey information. Members include fabless companies and their supply chain and service partners, representing more than 21 countries across the globe. www.fsa.org.
Contact:
FSA
Vivian Pangburn, 972-866-7579, ext. 140
vpangburn@fsa.org
or
Media Contact:
Shelton PR
Kevin Metz, 972-239-5119 ext. 135
kmetz@sheltongroup.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: FSA
QUALCOMM "overweight," estimates raised, Target $55
Friday, December 09, 2005 10:50:07 AM ET
Prudential Financial
NEW YORK, December 9 (newratings.com) - In a research note published yesterday, analyst Inder M Singh of Prudential Financial reiterates his "overweight" rating on QUALCOMM Inc (QCOM.NAS), while raising his estimates for the company. The target price is set to $55.
http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news/article_1157181.html
Qualcomm outlook raised at Citigroup: Citigroup said it is increasing its estimates on QCOM for the year ending Sept. 2006 to $1.48 a share from $1.46 a share based on the company's positive pre-announcement. Maintained Buy rating.
The above info was cut and paste from:
StreetNotes: A Daily Roundup of Street Research
Page 3
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/thestreetnotestsc/10256688_3.html
Qualcomm outlook raised at Goldman: Goldman said it is increasing its estimates on QCOM to $1.50 a share from $1.47 a share. Expects company to continue to deliver upside to earnings as we move through 2006.
The above info was cut and paste from:
StreetNotes: A Daily Roundup of Street Research
Page 4
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/thestreetnotestsc/10256688_4.html
QUALCOMM today updated its financial guidance for the first fiscal quarter ending December 25, 2005.
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-08-2005/0004230335&....
The following statements are forward looking and actual results may differ
materially. Please see the description of certain risk factors in this
release and QUALCOMM's reports on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) for a more complete description of risks.
Pro Forma Defined
Pro forma results and guidance exclude the QUALCOMM Strategic Initiatives
(QSI) segment, estimated share-based compensation expense and tax benefits
related to prior years.
First Fiscal Quarter Business Outlook
Based on the current business outlook, we now anticipate first fiscal
quarter revenues for QUALCOMM pro forma to be at the high end of our prior
estimate of approximately $1.67 to $1.77 billion. We now anticipate first
fiscal quarter pro forma diluted earnings per share to be approximately
$0.38 to $0.39, compared to $0.28 in the year ago quarter. This estimate is
based on the shipment of approximately 47 million Mobile Station Modem (MSM)
chips during the quarter compared to approximately 39 million in the year ago
quarter and approximately 40 million in the prior quarter. We previously
anticipated first fiscal quarter pro forma diluted earnings per share to be
approximately $0.36 to $0.38 and estimated shipments of approximately 46 to
48 million MSM chips.
The majority of our licensees have reported royalties in the first fiscal
quarter for products shipped in the September quarter. Based on these
reports, and an estimate of the few licensees yet to report, we anticipate
September quarter shipments of approximately 52 million new CDMA/WCDMA units
at an average selling price of approximately $213 compared to our prior
estimate of approximately 51-53 million units at an average selling price of
approximately $206.
"Our updated guidance for the first fiscal quarter reflects higher handset
ASPs due primarily to strength in WCDMA handset shipments in Europe and a
positive mix in 1xEV-DO MSM chipsets," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chief
executive officer of QUALCOMM. "Regionally we see strong demand for 1xEV-DO
products in North America, Japan and Korea. Our expectations for stronger
WCDMA demand in Europe appear to be materializing as well. We see several
European operators being particularly aggressive this holiday season with
their 3G offerings. In addition, we now anticipate operating expenses will be
modestly lower and investment income will be modestly higher than previously
expected for the first quarter."
The following table summarizes total QUALCOMM and QUALCOMM pro forma
results for the first fiscal quarter of 2005 and guidance based on the current
business outlook for the first fiscal quarter of 2006. The business outlook
for total QUALCOMM includes the effects of the Company's adoption of
SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment (FAS 123R) in the first quarter of fiscal
2006, which requires the expensing of share-based payment programs. Total
QUALCOMM guidance for the first fiscal quarter of 2006 includes approximately
$0.04 diluted loss per share related to estimated share-based compensation
expense. Due to their nature, certain income and expense items such as
realized gains and losses in QSI, gains and losses on certain derivative
instruments or asset impairments cannot be accurately forecast. Accordingly,
the Company excludes such items from its business outlook, and actual results
may vary materially from the business outlook if the Company incurs any such
income or expense items.
The following estimates are approximations and are based on the current
business outlook:
Business Outlook Summary
FIRST QUARTER
Prior Guidance Current Guidance
Q1'05 Q1'06 Q1'06
Results Estimates Estimates
QUALCOMM Pro Forma
Revenues $1.39B $1.67B - $1.77B High end prior guidance
Year-over-year
change increase 20% - 27%
Diluted earnings
per share (EPS) $0.28 $0.36 - $0.38 $0.38 - $0.39
Year-over-year
change increase 29% - 36% increase 36% - 39%
Total QUALCOMM
Revenues $1.39B $1.67B - $1.77B High end prior guidance
Year-over-year
change increase 20% - 27%
Diluted earnings
per share (EPS) $0.30 $0.30 - $0.32 $0.32 - $0.33
Year-over-year
change increase 0% - 7% increase 7% - 10%
EPS attributable
to QSI $0.02 ($0.02) ($0.02)
EPS attributable
to share-based
compensation n/a ($0.04) ($0.04)
Metrics
MSM Shipments approx. 39M 46M - 48M 47M
CDMA/WCDMA
handset units
shipped approx. 40M* 51M - 53M* 52M*
CDMA/WCDMA
handset unit
wholesale
average
selling
price approx. $212* $206* $213*
*Shipments in Sept. quarter, reported in Dec. quarter
Second Fiscal Quarter Business Outlook
Consistent with our prior guidance, we continue to expect a sequential
decline of approximately $0.02-$0.03 in pro forma and total QUALCOMM diluted
earnings per share for the second fiscal quarter due primarily to seasonality
in product shipments and sequentially higher operating expenses.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (http://www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and
delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services
based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego,
California, QUALCOMM is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2005 FORTUNE
500(R) company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the ticker symbol
QCOM.
Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Pro forma financial measurements are used by management to evaluate,
assess and benchmark the Company's operating results, and the Company believes
that pro forma reporting represents relevant and useful information that is
widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in its
industry. The Company presents pro forma financial information excluding the
QUALCOMM Strategic Initiatives (QSI) segment to facilitate evaluation of the
Company's ongoing core operating businesses, including QUALCOMM CDMA
Technologies (QCT), QUALCOMM Technology Licensing (QTL) and QUALCOMM Wireless
& Internet (QWI). QSI results relate to strategic investments for which the
Company has exit strategies of varying durations. Management believes that
the information excluding QSI presents a more representative view of the
operating and liquidity performance of the Company because it excludes the
effect of fluctuations in the values of investments that are unrelated to the
Company's operational performance.
The Company presents pro forma information excluding tax benefits related
to prior years to facilitate an understanding of its ongoing tax rate and
after tax earnings. The Company believes that this presentation is useful in
evaluating its performance on a consistent and comparable basis.
The Company presents pro forma financial information for fiscal 2006 that
excludes the estimate of share-based compensation under FAS 123R. The
Company's management uses pro forma financial measures excluding share-based
compensation to evaluate, assess and benchmark the Company's operating results
because share-based compensation is not an expense that requires or will
require cash payment by the Company. The Company believes that financial data
excluding the estimate of share-based compensation expense provides meaningful
information about the Company's ongoing core operating businesses. This
presentation is also useful to investors in evaluating performance on a basis
that is consistent and comparable with periods prior to the adoption of
FAS 123R in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.
The non-GAAP pro forma financial information presented herein should be
considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial
measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, pro forma is not a
term defined by GAAP, and, as a result, the Company's measure of pro forma
results might be different than similarly titled measures used by other
companies. Reconciliations between total QUALCOMM results and QUALCOMM pro
forma results discussed in this release are presented herein.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to the historical information contained herein, this news
release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Actual results may differ substantially from those referred to
herein due to a number of factors, including but not limited to risks
associated with: the rate of development, deployment and commercial acceptance
of CDMA based networks and CDMA based technology, including CDMA2000 1X,
1xEV-DO and WCDMA, both domestically and internationally; our dependence on
major customers and licensees; fluctuations in the demand for and price of
CDMA based products, services or applications; foreign currency fluctuations;
strategic loans, investments and transactions the Company has or may pursue;
gains or losses on derivative instruments or asset impairments; our dependence
on third party manufacturers and suppliers; our ability to maintain and
improve operational efficiencies and profitability; developments in current
and future litigation, as well as the other risks detailed from time-to-time
in the Company's SEC reports.
QUALCOMM(R), Mobile Station Modem(TM), MSM(TM) are trademarks and/or
service marks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. CDMA2000(R) is a registered trademark
of the Telecommunications Industry Association. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure Related to Prior Periods
(In millions, except per share data)
First Quarter - Fiscal Year 2005
Reconciling QUALCOMM Total
Segments QCT QTL QWI Items (1) Pro Forma QSI QUALCOMM
Revenues $865 $400 $159 $(34) $1,390 $-- $1,390
Earnings from
continuing
operations
before taxes 242 358 16 48 664 40 704
Net income 474 39 513
Diluted
earnings
per common
share $0.28 $0.02 $0.30
Shares used
in per share
calculations 1,704 1,704 1,704
(1) Reconciling items related to revenues consist primarily of other
non-reportable segment revenues less intersegment eliminations.
Reconciling items related to earnings before taxes consist primarily
of corporate expenses not allocated to the segments for management
reporting purposes, unallocated net investment income, non-reportable
segment results and the elimination of intercompany profit.
QUALCOMM Contact:
Bill Davidson, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
or
QUALCOMM Contact:
Jeremy James, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-7333
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
SOURCE QUALCOMM Incorporated
Web Site: http://www.qualcomm.com
Pre-Market: QCOM = 46, why there is a big jump from yesterday's closing?
Symbol Time* Trade* Change* After Hrs Chg* Bid* Ask*
QCOM 9:07AM ET 46.00 1.00 (2.22%) N/A 45.96 46.12
Japan's KDDI adds the most mobile users in Nov
Wednesday December 7, 2:57 PM
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/051207/3/2bztv.html
TOKYO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Japanese telecoms operator KDDI Corp.'s main mobile unit gained more new users on a net basis than dominant NTT DoCoMo Inc. in November for the fifth straight month, an industry group said on Wednesday.
DoCoMo maintained a lead in adding new third-generation (3G) users.
Vodafone K.K., the No. 3 Japanese mobile operator, owned by Britain's Vodafone Group Plc , posted its largest increase in customers since June 2004, when it added 64,100 customers, according to the Telecommunications Carriers Association, which compiles data reported by the companies.
KDDI's main au mobile unit added 283,200 new customers in November and users of its high-speed 3G service rose by 335,300 to over 20 million, or about 95 percent of its customer base.
DoCoMo followed with 120,400 net new customers, with the total topping 50 million. It added more than a million 3G users in November, many of whom switched from its older mobile services. It ended the month with about 37 percent of its customers on 3G.
Vodafone K.K. gained 57,000 new customers and finished the month with over 15 million subscribers, helped by the introduction of flat-rate price plans and an expanded handset lineup.
Tu-Ka, a former wholly owned KDDI mobile subsidiary absorbed by the parent on Oct. 1, lost 146,900 subscribers as KDDI has started the process of shifting Tu-Ka customers to au.
Net customer growth is calculated by subtracting customers who left a service from the absolute number of new subscribers.
The industry had a total of 89.68 million subscribers in November, of whom 45.6 percent were on 3G services.
Details were as follows:
NEW SUBSCRIBERS
OPERATOR SEPT OCTOBER NOVEMBER TOTAL
DoCoMo 124,800 90,100 120,400 50,114,700
au (KDDI) 165,100 235,400 283,200 21,222,200
Tu-Ka (KDDI) 1,300 -91,600 -146,900 3,289,000
Vodafone 3,300 4,500 57,000 15,053,000
----------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 294,500 238,400 313,700 89,678,900
NEW USERS OF THIRD-GENERATION SERVICES
OPERATOR SEPT OCTOBER NOVEMBER TOTAL
DoCoMo 891,800 814,300 1,003,900 18,588,300
au (KDDI) 249,700 302,200 335,300 20,184,800
Vodafone 163,500 141,300 186,500 2,081,400
----------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 1,305,000 1,257,800 1,525,700 40,854,500
Note: Numbers are rounded. Data provided by the
Telecommunications Carriers Association.
Nokia 6305i coming to Verizon says FCC
Friday December 2, 2005 6:25 PM EST - By: Ryan Maule
Via: Phone Arena
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/340/C5479/
Oh, the FCC. Our second favourite source of leaked information only after the patents office. Today they approved the Nokia 6305i slider phone that uses CDMA as its cellular technology of choice. Of course the most important news is that this slider is going to be available on the Verizon network in the US.
Keeners out there will actually know that this phone was on its way since reports and clues surfaced on the ‘net back as early as the summer of this year. They also might know that this is most likely one of the rumored EV-DO Nokias which are actually rebranded phones produced by Pantech/Curitel (SK Tel).
The phone should be coming to the Verizon network in Q1 of next year, but there has yet to be any official announcements made by Verizon or Sprint at this time.
For the spec lovers out there the phone will feature several high end qualities:
- EV-DO 1x
- An “Airplane mode”
- 16 bit 176x203 TFT
- 1.3 Megapixel Camera
But other features like Bluetooth, removable memory and no support for MP3’s may hurt his phone’s geek-status. AAC’s are supported just for the record.
You can find out all the gory details from this BREW data sheet from Qualcomm (dated November 23, 2004?!).
Nokia 6305i with EV-DO on FCC site
Nokia 6305i with EV-DO on FCC site
Dec 02 2005 - 03:46 PM ET | Nokia, Verizon Wireless
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=742188&fcc_id='QMNRM-142'
then click on View attachment internal photo,
you will see a Qualcomm chip inside.
QUALCOMM Responds to Inaccuracies in Korea Times Article on Expiration of Royalty Payments
Thursday December 1, 8:04 pm ET
Press Release Source: QUALCOMM Incorporated
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051201/lath126.html?.v=9
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM - News) stated that the claims in a Korea Times article (December 1, 2005) indicating that certain Korean manufacturers' obligations to pay royalties to QUALCOMM under their respective license agreements will expire in 2006 for sales in Korea and 2008 for exports from Korea are not correct. While QUALCOMM cannot disclose confidential details of its license agreements, the royalty obligations that Korean manufacturers have with QUALCOMM will continue beyond such dates, and there is no date on which a license under all of QUALCOMM's patents becomes royalty free.
ADVERTISEMENT
QUALCOMM's licensing program has fostered the widespread adoption of leading-edge technologies and promoted vibrant competition throughout the wireless industry, encouraging innovation, technological advancement and vigorous price competition. QUALCOMM has entered into more than 130 license agreements with the world's leading manufacturers of wireless equipment. QUALCOMM is very pleased that its Korean partners have, by combining QUALCOMM's patented technology with their own developments, joined a number of the Company's other licensees as world class suppliers of CDMA equipment, as well as other technologies, throughout the world. QUALCOMM looks forward to its partners' continued success.
Please visit QUALCOMM's website, www.qualcomm.com, for more information on QUALCOMM's response.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2005 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol QCOM.
QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners
QUALCOMM Contacts:
Christine Trimble, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-651-3628
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
or
Bill Davidson, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
Stop Fighting the Tape, Start Joining
TheStreet.com (subscription), NY - 1 hour ago
... People saying that tech is way overdone and has to be sold because it has moved too much -- like that UBS downgrade of Qualcomm (QCOM:Nasdaq - commentary ...
Too many people are trying to fight the tape because it doesn't match their theses. But the argument that these stocks are too high here doesn't make sense. They're still lower than where they were five or six years ago, so stop fighting and start joining.
https://secure2.thestreet.com/cap/login/rm_mbp_summarylong.jsp?nosummary=yes&cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=PREMIUM&cm_ite=003956&flowid=3bebfbea8c&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestreet.com%2Fp%2F_googlen%2Frmoney%2Fjamesjcramer%2F10255288.html
Finland/US: Nokia's CDMA royalties EUR 210mn per year
Telecom&Mobility news
http://e.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=44575
Helsinki, 30 November, 2005 — According to Forbes Magazine, Nokia has paid Qualcomm royalties of approximately EUR 210mn annually for the use of CDMA technology. The sum will increase in future, when the share of 3G mobile phones rises to about 10% in the world markets.
According to market researchers, mobile phone manufacturers will have to pay Qualcomm royalties of EUR 8.5 per every phone that uses WCDMA technology. The royalty sum will account for approximately 10% of the phone's production costs.
According to Forbes Magazine, it is likely that the large phone manufacturers, such as Nokia and Motorola, will try to find a way to avoid paying the CDMA royalties. Intel's WIMAX broadband technology is an option.
NICTA L4 MicroKernel To Utilise Select QUALCOMM Chipsets
29 November 2005
http://www.arm.com/iqonline/news/marketnews/11144.html
National ICT Australia (NICTA), Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Information and Communications Technology research is collaborating with QUALCOMM to use NICTA versions of the L4 Microkernel and the Iguana operating system together with select versions of QUALCOMM’s Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipsets.
The NICTA’s L4 microkernel and Iguana OS will be adopted by Qualcomm for some mobile phone chipsets. It will be the first NICTA technology to be commercially adopted.
"We are pleased to be working with QUALCOMM to utilise the L4 microkernel as the foundation for a trusted computing platform on embedded wireless devices," said Professor Gernot Heiser, leader of NICTA’s Embedded, Real-Time, and Operating Systems (ERTOS) program.
“Our L4/Iguana operating system has the potential to revolutionise the use of embedded systems around the world,” added Heiser. “It is currently being evaluated for deployment by a number of small-to-medium-sized enterprises in Australia and multinational corporations.”
The L4/Iguana technology is being developed for a number of platforms, including ARM. ERTOS hopes to make the ARM version the "fastest operating system with memory protection, and the first that provides a virtual-machine environment for running Linux”
L4/Iguana is part of a general embedded OS framework developed by NICTA’s ERTOS Research Program located at the Kensington Neville Roach Research Laboratory in Sydney, Australia. The software is based on previous work conducted on the L4 microkernel by NICTA in partnership with the University of Karlsruhe in Germany and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
KTF Considers Adopting Qualcomm FLO
User Rating: / 0
Tuesday, 29 November 2005
http://www.telecomskorea.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3127&Itemid=2
KTF, the second largest mobile carrier in Korea with more than 12.3m subscribers, expresses its discontent with the government’s DMB policies by considering adoption of Qualcomm FLO and Nokia DVB-H standard.
T.J Chae, KTF’s Strategy Planning Group Director said in a mobile broadcasting workshop in Jeju, “It doesn’t make sense that the government demands mobile carriers to cooperate unconditionally to its DMB policies in the name of “national interest”. We are considering the adoption of Qulacomm’s FLO or Nokia’s DVB-H in line with meeting global standards.”
He also said, “In satellite DMB business, SK Telecom would go ahead anyway though it seems to suffer losses because the business is in fact initiated by SKT. However, KTF has no compelling reason to do so.” “At a time when TU Media, the satellite DMB provider, doesn’t offer any chance to KTF to get shares in the company and the profit sharing is far short of even marketing cost, why should we be sticking our noses in the business?”, he asked.
He was critical about T-DMB, too. “Current business model would not bring about any profits to mobile carriers. It is nonsense for the government to force mobile carriers to be tied to the business for national interest.”, he argued.
By TelecomsKorea.com
Samsung to produce Qualcomm phone chips
Deal to help S.D. firm increase its supplies
By Kathryn Balint
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 24, 2005
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20051124-9999-1b24chips.html
Qualcomm and Samsung, two giants in the wireless industry, are expanding their relationship with a deal in which the South Korean company will make cell phone chips under the Qualcomm brand.
The companies did not disclose the value of the deal or the number of chips to be manufactured.
Samsung, which makes both chips and cell phones, is one of Qualcomm's largest customers.
San Diego-based Qualcomm is a developer of wireless technology and a designer of semiconductors for cell phones. It contracts with other companies to produce chips under Qualcomm's name.
The deal between Qualcomm and Samsung is key to both companies.
It allows Samsung to diversify by contracting out its chip-making services. For Qualcomm, the agreement will help the company meet rising demand for chips in cell phones.
Analyst Michael Cohen of Pacific American Securities said the agreement may be a sign that Qualcomm is gearing up to sell more chips as the next generation of cellular networks are built.
Qualcomm's wireless technology, called code-division multiple access, or CDMA, is used by about one in five cell phones throughout the world. Eventually, virtually all cell phones will use Qualcomm's technology, either in the form of CDMA or what is known as wideband CDMA. Qualcomm sells chips that run cell phones and collects royalties on the sale of phones using its technology.
"Our foundry agreement with Samsung will provide an additional source of supply and assist us in our strategy aimed to ensure capacity to support existing and anticipated business growth in both CDMA and WCDMA markets," Sanjay K. Jha, president of Qualcomm's chip division, said in a statement.
Oh-Hyun Kwon, president of Samsung's logic technologies business, called the agreement "the next logical step in a long-standing relationship."
The Samsung deal "is more confirmation that the global ramp to wideband CDMA is truly happening," said Cohen, the analyst. "Only when the rest of the cellular networks go to wideband CDMA do they have to pay royalties to Qualcomm. That's the other 80 percent of the market."
Samsung has threatened over the years to begin manufacturing its own cell phone chips, Cohen said. Analysts said the agreement between the two companies lessens that threat.
"I think strengthening the partnership lessens the potential for competitive tension," Cohen said.
The Samsung deal, announced late Tuesday, comes at a time when Qualcomm is under fire for its licensing agreements.
Last month, six major wireless companies complained to the European Commission about what they described as Qualcomm's "anti-competitive conduct."
Broadcom Corp., Ericsson, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Texas Instruments filed complaints that accused Qualcomm of overcharging for its technology and stifling competitors.
Qualcomm has said the allegations are "factually inaccurate and legally meritless."
Analyst Albert Lin of American Technology Research said the Samsung deal provides Qualcomm with an ally.
"With six large companies pressuring the European Commission to investigate claims of unfair business practices, Qualcomm can count on the support of Samsung," Lin said in a research note.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathryn Balint: (619) 293-2848; kathryn.balint@uniontrib.com
Samsung Promises Firsts For Fourth Quarter
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 11/21/2005
Sidebars:
Samsung Portfolio
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6285964.html?verticalid=820&industry=Communications&industryi....
New York — Fifteen new Samsung handsets that U.S. carriers are launching in the fourth quarter include the industry's first world PDA-phone operating on GPRS and CDMA 1x EV-DO data networks, the U.S. market's first GSM push-to-talk (PTT) phone, and the company's first two RAZR-like ultra-slim phones, which include the industry's slimmest EDGE phone and slimmest EV-DO phone.
Soon after, the company's lineup will include what Samsung contends will be the first commercial W-CDMA (UMTS) handset in the country. It's due in the first quarter for Cingular's expected W-CDMA relaunch.
More than 30 new Samsung phones will have been launched by carriers this year when the quarter is over, said Muzibul Khan, product management and engineering VP. They include seven CDMA 1x EV-DO phones, the first U.S. camera phone with optical vs. digital zoom, and an EDGE “convertible-flip phone” that flips open in portrait mode for traditional phone dialing and in landscape mode for use with QWERTY keyboard.
In 2006, Samsung expects to offer EV-DO Revision A handsets to boost EV-DO uplink and downlink data speeds; W-CDMA phones that incorporate HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) to boost data speeds; and combination EV-DO/Wi-Fi phones that, unlike the current i730, will seamlessly hand-off data calls from one network to the other and support VoIP over Wi-Fi and over EV-DO networks, Khan said. EV-DO Rev. A, he noted, will enable video telephony and instant multimedia messaging, not just instant text messaging.
As for phones equipped with either the DVB-H (digital video broadcasting-handheld) or Qualcomm MediaFLO technologies for digital video broadcasting, Samsung will offer them whenever carriers decide to launch the services. Both technologies will be trialed in 2006.
On the infrastructure and device sides, Samsung will deliver mobile WiMAX (802.11e) equipment that will enable carriers to offer high-speed data services in cellular spectrum or in other spectrum, such as 2.5GHz in the United States. The Mobile WiMAX spec is expected to be finalized by the WiMAX Forum later this year, said network systems VP Tom Jasny. Mobile WiMAX is expected to deliver average throughputs of 1Mbps in both directions for portable and mobile applications at vehicular speeds of more than 73mph, he said. The target is to deliver those data speeds at vehicular speeds of 93mph, he added.
W-CDMA HSDPA will offer download speeds similar to WiMAX but much slower upload speeds, Jasny said.
Beginning this month and through the first quarter of 2006, Samsung is joining Sprint PCS in trialing mobile WiMAX in Sprint's non-cellular 2.5GHz spectrum.
When asked about other suppliers' penchant for unifying user interfaces among handsets, Khan acknowledged “a carrier trend to unify interfaces,” but he warned that a “platform approach” can create phone limitations as suppliers rush to “rapidly develop new technologies.” In addition, Samsung wants to create differentiated handsets to encourage step-up sales and reflect differing capabilities. As a result of these conflicting demands, he said, “We've come to a middle ground.”
In the GSM world, he noted, “there's a lot more unification because the technology is more standardized,” but he noted that with the development of EDGE and W-CDMA technologies for GSM networks, the user interfaces of GSM-network handsets will become less standardized.
Samsung Portfolio
GPRS/EV-DO PDA phone: The SCH-i830 quadband worldphone, built on the Windows Mobile 2003 PocketPC platform, is a touch-screen-equipped slider that opens up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard.
Features include MP3 player, SD card slot, dual stereo speakers and speakerphone. It's due through carriers in late December or early January.
W-CDMA: The SGH-zx10, intended for Cingular, is a quadband worldphone operating in GSM/GPRS in four bands and in W-CDMA in the U.S. 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands. The clamshell phone will lack HSDPA and Bluetooth in initial production runs, but both technologies will be added as a running change 90 days later.
The first production models are due in the first quarter. Other features include 1.3-megapixel camera, removable TransFlash card, 3D mobile gaming and speakerphone
PTT GSM: The clamshell SGH-d357, due in November from Cingular, features PTT, MP3 player, voice control, Bluetooth, speech recognition and speakerphone.
RAZR-beaters: The SGH-t809 GSM/GPRS phone, due in November or December from T-Mobile, is an EDGE-equipped ultra-slim slider that's only 0.62 inches thick when shut. It's said to be the slimmest slider in the North American market. It features 70MB of internal memory plus TransFlash memory card slot. Other features include MP3 player, streaming-video player, external stereo speakers, Bluetooth, AOL and Yahoo IM and 1.3-megapixel camera.
The clamshell SPH-a900 CDMA 1x EV-DO phone is promoted as the thinnest CDMA phone at 0.58 inches. It features rotating 1.3-megapixel camera lens, video-on-demand support and Bluetooth. It's due in November or December, but a carrier hasn't been announced.
Optical-zoom camera phone: The SCH-A970 for Verizon and the Sprint-version MM-A940 feature CDMA 1x EV-DO, 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, 3x optical zoom, Bluetooth, MP3 player and video-on-demand support. They're available at $249 and $299, respectively. They feature rotating-flip design so the device can be held like a camcorder, Bluetooth, speech-to-text conversions, 32MB internal memory and TransFlash slot.
Convertible flip phone: The SGH-d307, already available from Cingular at $199 after Cingular rebate, features Bluetooth, speech-to-text conversion and QWERTY keyboard for messaging.
Qualcomm ready to make friends or war with Nokia
Mobile TV standards war gets ugly - or otherwise
By Jo Best
Published: Tuesday 22 November 2005
http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39154459,00.htm
Despite going head to head with Nokia, Qualcomm is sticking to its mobile TV guns – and will even work with its rival if needs be, a Qualcomm exec said today.
While most mobile giants have picked an existing mobile standard and thrown their weight behind it already, Qualcomm has decided to go it alone with its in-house developed MediaFLO technology – shunning the Nokia-favoured DVB-H, already being trialled in Europe.
Rob Chandhok , VP of engineering and market development, said: "We really have tried to do something different. All those [mobile TV variants] are based on existing standards. We think the mobile market is big enough to warrant its own technology."
However, DVB-H is already capturing some operators' - and analysts' - imaginations, while the proprietary nature of MediaFLO will doubtless put off some mobile companies.
Chandhok said: "We would argue that FLO is driven by Qualcomm, like DVB-H is driven by Nokia. It's not as far along but the path we're taking is exactly analogous." Qualcomm for example has launched a forum around the technology – FLOforum – to help tackle interoperability and other issues, as Nokia has backed the DVB-H Project.
However, despite the two heavyweights now pitted head-to-head in mobile TV as well as in the courtroom, Chandhok predicts peace may yet break out between the pair.
He said: "The world isn't quite ready to pick one standard. I wouldn't rule out a harmonisation of DVB-H and FLO at some point," adding the company would be happy to work with Nokia on MediaFLO.
However, there may yet be no demand to necessitate such a partnership. Chandhok, however, dismissed the findings of analyst reports that found a lack of interest in mobile TV. "We don't see that when we talk to operators," he said. "We're quite confident in the [consumer] demand, if the production's done right.
"No one says 'the encoding's terrible but the show was OK'."
According to Chandhok, the issue of pricing has yet to be solved too – with $15 to 20 and $5 per month bundles all being played with. "We don't know how that will segment out and where it will land," he said.
Equally undecided at present is Qualcomm's plan for Europe, where it is currently talking to broadcasters and partners with regards to a MediaFLO network but is yet to announce any commercial trials or rollout plans.
However, things across the pond are working out more in Qualcomm's favour, it seems, with Chandhok saying the company is "confident" of fulfilling a promise to launch its broadcast network in October 2006 with at least one operator onside. "We're comfortable with the way things are going," he said.
LG Electronics MobileComm Takes Number Two Spot Across All Mobile Phone Technologies in the U.S.
Monday November 21, 12:10 pm ET
Leading Mobile Phone Maker Maintains Top Spot in U.S. CDMA Handset Sales; Shows Continued Growth in GSM Market
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051121/lam077.html?.v=31
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- According to recently released mobile phone market share data from Strategy Analytics' Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, LG Electronics MobileComm (LG Mobile Phones) has maintained its number one rank in terms of sales of CDMA phones in the U.S. for the third quarter of 2005. Since Q4 of 2003, LG has shipped more CDMA handsets in the U.S. than any other manufacturer, according to market research.
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In addition to maintaining its position as #1 in the U.S. CDMA market, LG increased its overall share of the U.S. mobile handset market from Q3 2005, winning the number two spot for the third quarter of 2005. Selling just under 8 million handsets nationwide in the third quarter of this year, LG's overall market share is 20.5%.
Building on its well-known leadership in the CDMA market, LG has continued its impressive growth in the GSM category. Just over two years after the launch of its first GSM handset in the U.S., LG again secured the number four spot in the U.S. GSM market in Q3 of 2005 -- maintaining the strong position the company occupied in Q2 2005.
"We are proud that LG secured the number two spot for all mobile phone technology in the U.S.," said Juno Cho, president, LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A. Inc. "LG's CDMA sales have maintained strong momentum in the third quarter of 2005 and our steady expansion into the GSM market is being met with encouraging results. A testament to this tremendous growth is our relentless dedication as a company to offer consumers the most innovative and technologically advanced wireless communication devices that enhance their lifestyle."
Highly successful LG CDMA models launched to-date in 2005 include the flagship EV-DO-capable VX8100 with MP3 capability, the MM535 1.3 megapixel camera phone, the PM-225 device and The V (VX9800). The V is the ultimate entertainment device that is EV-DO-capable with a 1.3 megapixel integrated camera and camcorder, full QWERTY keyboard, and MP3 player. Extremely popular GSM handsets launched this year include the EDGE-capable A7110 handset and the stylish and functional L1400i and C1300i models.
Strategy Analytics is a Boston based independent research and consulting firm. For more information go to www.strategyanalytics.net
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics (KSE: 06657.KS) is a global leader in providing cutting-edge, convergent electronics, information and communications products designed to meet the diverse needs of fast-changing consumers. With consolidated sales of US$37.7 billion and overseas sales of US$ 32.6 billion (86% of total sales), LG Electronics employs more than 70,000 employees in 76 subsidiaries located in 39 countries and operates four business units including Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Digital Media.
About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company
LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is the world's leading manufacturer of WCDMA (UMTS), CDMA and GSM handsets, and the fastest growing manufacturer of mobile phones worldwide. The company provides a total range of wired and wireless solutions, and is rapidly establishing a global presence as it cultivates international market share in 3G handsets.
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Source: LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company
Motorola Shows Upgraded 1xEV-DO System
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14913.php
Motorola has unveiled its prototype CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A solution. With downlink speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps and uplink speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps, CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A provides new capability for operators to offer enhanced services such as simultaneous video, voice and data applications. The demonstration uses Motorola's prototype CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A solution and Motorola's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), (referred to as Multimedia Domain (MMD) by the 3GPP2), to demonstrate simultaneous video telephony calls using Motorola's Ojo Personal Video Phone, VoIP, and video downloads from a media server.
Test modems from Qualcomm provide the CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A link to a Motorola base station equipped with a CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A channel card.
"Motorola's all-IP CDMA architecture is ready to support Rev. A, and our integrated radio access network solution lets operators leverage their existing investment as they make the migration to this new technology," said Bruce Stone, senior vice president, Cellular Networks, Motorola. "Our CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A solution is another addition to Motorola's growing portfolio of broadband access and core solutions, mobile devices, and services that will enable converged services and seamless mobility."
CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A is an enhancement to CDMA 1xEV-DO mobile broadband access that combines voice and data on a single carrier, decreasing the burden of operating separate networks for circuit voice and packet data. This not only increases voice capacity, but also enables multiple concurrent data links. Motorola's 1xEV-DO system, in service with operators in Brazil, Thailand, and the United States, can be migrated to Rev. A with hardware and software upgrades.
Motorola's CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A solution is planned for commercial availability in 2006.
3G cell standard set to take root in China
Staff and agencies
21 November, 2005
By Doug Young 46 minutes ago
http://www.heraldnewsdaily.com/stories/news-00102634.html
HONG KONG - China‘s home-grown third-generation (3G) mobile telecoms standard is set to take root as more big industry names back it and as the prospect of soft loans and technical support attracts developing market interest.
But first, China must prove outside critics wrong by building and operating a system that works, industry executives say.
The government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to develop the standard, known as TD-SCDMA, over the last few years.
The plan, once dismissed by many outsiders as a pipedream, has gained slow but steady momentum in the last year, with most of the world‘s major telecoms equipment vendors signing on with Chinese partners to support the technology.
"I think TD-SCDMA will play a role in China, and I wouldn‘t be surprised if smaller markets outside China do some testing in less complex environments," said Michael Tatelman, North Asia manager of the mobile devices unit of Motorola Inc.
"China is great at promoting and exporting standards," he said on the sidelines of the 3G World Congress this week in Hong Kong. "So is private business there. Like anywhere else, there‘s a cooperation between government and private enterprises."
Motorola, like a number of other global telecoms equipment makers, has said it will support TD-SCDMA through joint ventures and less formal tie-ups.
Others on the list include Ericsson (ERICb.ST), Nokia Nokia Oyj (NOK1V.HE), Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE), Alcatel (CGEP.PA) and Nortel
U.S.-based Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU - news) became one of the last to fall into line. The company told Reuters it was forming an alliance with China‘s Datang Telecom Technology Ltd. (600198.SS) to develop TD-SCDMA systems.
Industry observers point out that the technology would be especially suitable for developing markets, since China is likely to provide strong support via soft loans, other financing and technical support for anyone who builds a system.
Such support was a key factor in promulgating the world‘s two second-generation (2G) mobile standards, GSM and CDMA CDMA. GSM was strongly advocated by governments of Western Europe, and by companies including Ericsson and Nokia, while CDMA was backed by the United States and by companies including Qualcomm
Industry experts reckon TD-SCDMA could exist alongside two other high-speed cellular technologies: WCDMA, already in use in Europe and Japan, and CDMA2000 1x, used in North America.
"TD-SCDMA is being sponsored by China just like GSM was sponsored by Europe," said Bob Mao, president of Greater China for Nortel, also on the sidelines of the congress.
"China has been very methodical to make sure the technology is robust. That‘s why it‘s taking so long" to roll out fully commercialized products.
One developing market -- Romania -- has already signed on to the standard, and is testing out a trial network with China‘s No. 2 telecoms equipment maker, ZTE Corp. (0763.HK) (000063.SZ), a ZTE executive told Reuters.
But most observers say China will have to show the technology works by building its own broader system before it embarks on any major campaign to spread the technology abroad.
Such a development looks virtually certain to happen next year, when the country is expected to award 3G licenses.
Most observers expect either three or four licenses to be given out, with at least one of those requiring its holder to build either a partial or complete network based on TD-SCDMA.
"We do believe that China is a country which is big enough to have more than one technology available," said Philippe Keryer, president of the mobile communications group for France‘s Alcatel (CGEP.PA). "There is a significant market for TD-SCDMA in China. It is opening the door for using the technology outside."
As top dog, Qualcomm draws fire
Its European rivals contend firm's a bully
By Kathryn Balint
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 20, 2005
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20051120-9999-1b20qcom.html
A brewing battle in the cell phone industry begs this question: Is Qualcomm a bully – or a target?
The San Diego company is the big guy on the block in the wireless industry. Its technology is on its way to being used, in one form or another, in virtually all cell phones in the world.
Qualcomm's recent patent disputes
May 18: Broadcom files two patent-infringement suits against Qualcomm.
May 19: Broadcom asks the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar Qualcomm from importing chips that Broadcom says violates its patents.
July 1: Broadcom files antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm.
July 11: Qualcomm files patent-infringement suit against Broadcom.
Aug. 22: Qualcomm files breach of contract suit against Broadcom, accusing it of violating a previous licensing agreement.
Oct. 14: Qualcomm files another patent-infringement suit against Broadcom.
Oct. 26: Six companies – Broadcom, Ericsson, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Texas Instruments – file complaints asking the European Commission to investigate what they call Qualcomm's "anti-competitive" conduct.
Nov. 4: Qualcomm files patent-infringement suit against Nokia.
Qualcomm developed technology known as code division multiple access, which is used by about a quarter of the cell phones in the world, including those that use the Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel networks in the United States.
The company makes money by licensing the technology to cell phone makers and by selling chips that power cell phones.
The circumstances mean that Qualcomm's rivals are, in many cases, also its customers because they license the company's technology.
Qualcomm's CDMA began as an alternative to GSM, or Global System for Mobile Communications, the technology used in cellular networks.
But, now, as those GSM networks around the world are upgraded to transmit video games, television and music, that next-generation standard – wideband CDMA, or WCDMA, incorporates some of Qualcomm's technology.
For the first time, wireless companies that had previously stayed at arm's length from Qualcomm are now having to not only compete with the company but also pay it licensing fees.
"Obviously, nobody likes paying royalties," said Dave Mock, author of the book "The Qualcomm Equation." "It's an expense that, if they can cut it, goes right to their bottom line."
The legal battle against Qualcomm is being waged simultaneously in the United States and Europe.
In the last six months, Qualcomm has been slapped with two patent infringement suits, an antitrust suit, and complaints lodged by six companies with European regulators about its "anti-competitive" actions.
In return, Qualcomm, no stranger to the courtroom and never one to back down from a fight, has fired back with four lawsuits of its own – three patent infringement cases and a breach-of-contract suit.
"It's common for licensing and litigation to go hand in hand," said Michael Cohen, an analyst with Pacific American Securities.
Ever since the company unveiled its CDMA technology in 1989, it has been under fire. At the time, the U.S. wireless industry was on the verge of adopting another method of cell-phone transmission as its standard.
Since then, Qualcomm has fended off lawsuits and complaints to get CDMA adopted as an alternative standard in the United States. But the standard was rejected in Europe.
Now that at least parts of Qualcomm's technology have been incorporated in next-generation cell phone networks, including in Europe, the latest legal battle has begun for Qualcomm.
And, as in the past, the stakes are high.
Money is central to the escalating dispute between Qualcomm and its competitors-turned-customers.
When the standard of WCDMA was created, it contained intellectual property developed by companies throughout the industry, including Qualcomm.
The standards-making body required those companies to license their patented technology on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory" terms.
"Other companies worry about, what if Qualcomm is able to exert the type of control it has had with CDMA in WCDMA," said Michael King, a San Diego-based analyst with the Gartner Group. "That's a pretty big fear."
Qualcomm's licensees promise in writing not to reveal how much they pay in royalties.
But analysts believe that Qualcomm charges a royalty of about 5 percent of the sale of cell phones using its next-generation CDMA technology and about the same for cell phones using WCDMA technology.
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There's the rub.
The six companies that asked the European Commission to investigate Qualcomm – Broadcom, Ericsson, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Texas Instruments – said that fewer of Qualcomm's patents are used in WCDMA than in third-generation CDMA cell phones.
They argue that by charging the same royalties for WCDMA, Qualcomm's pricing is "excessive and disproportionate."
"If everybody who had essential patents for WCDMA charged the same kind of royalties that Qualcomm does, the royalties would be totally prohibitive," said Maurits Dolman, an attorney representing mobile phone maker Nokia in its European Commission complaint.
Qualcomm disagrees with the suggestion that it has contributed less significant technology to the WCDMA standard. It said that efforts by others in the industry to design a standard without using Qualcomm's technology had failed.
The company also said it has provided licenses on a fair basis.
Lou Lupin, Qualcomm's senior vice president and general counsel, sees the complaints to European regulators as a way for competitors to protect their turf.
"Ironically, they file a complaint with an authority that alleges anti-competitive activity and, in fact, they are complaining about the very activities that are creating competition," he said. "I think this complaint is a reaction by essentially the same group of companies that have been trying to keep Qualcomm out of Europe for decades."
The first signs of the latest squabble appeared when Broadcom, a semiconductor maker based in Irvine, began to break into the market for cell-phone chips. It needed an agreement with Qualcomm to incorporate its technology into those chips.
Talks between the two companies broke down, apparently because, as Broadcom explained later in court documents, it thought Qualcomm was charging too much for its intellectual property.
In May, Broadcom filed two lawsuits accusing Qualcomm of infringing on its patents, followed by a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Two months later, Broadcom fired its biggest shot across Qualcomm's bow.
It hired the law firm of David Boies, nicknamed "The Microsoft Slayer" after he represented the U.S. government in its antitrust case against the software behemoth, to take on Qualcomm for stifling competition.
The suit said that Qualcomm's actions "are aimed to cripple Broadcom as a competitor."
Qualcomm responded with three lawsuits of its own, two patent infringement cases and one alleging breach of contract.
The fight intensified last month when the six companies, including Broadcom, complained to the European Commission that Qualcomm is overcharging for its technology and stifling competitors.
All but Broadcom already have licensing agreements with Qualcomm. Nokia and Ericcson have a long history of opposing Qualcomm's efforts to enter the European market.
Qualcomm believes that complaints may have been in the works for years, and were filed by coincidence after the Broadcom lawsuits. According to Qualcomm, the companies that complained had tried to get some of Qualcomm's 130 other licensees to join in.
The European Commission is the entity that fined Microsoft $605 million after a five-year antitrust investigation.
The latest move in the fight came from Qualcomm. It sued Nokia this month for patent infringement.
Qualcomm, Broadcom and Nokia all deny the accusations made against them.
It's no secret that Qualcomm isn't necessarily loved in the wireless industry.
"If you talk to one person, they're a bully and their demands are too high," said Mock, the author. "But if you look at it from the other side, these companies agreed to go along with Qualcomm's terms. Whenever you're the top leader in the industry or a segment of the industry, you're just automatically a target."
King, the Gartner analyst, said Qualcomm's rivals will play up the bully angle to get sympathy from the European Commission.
"It will be portrayed as the big American bully comes in and beats up these helpless European companies, like Nokia and Ericsson," he said.
As in many disputes, both sides may have a valid point.
"Bottom line, you're going to see both parties are right in some way," King said. "Qualcomm has very tightly controlled the narrowband CDMA market and, in doing so, has produced tremendous profit. People are looking at that and saying, 'I don't want to pay that much for wideband CDMA.' "
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Kathryn Balint: (619) 293-2848; kathryn.balint@uniontrib.com
Qualcomm: 3G is a reality in LatAm
[November 18, 2005]
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2005/nov/1208189.htm
3G technology in Latin America is already a reality through CDMA, even though GSM platform providers say there is no such implementation in the region, Carlos Rivera business development VP for Latin America at US mobile technology firm Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM), told BNamericas.
The stance has the support of Carlos Carnevali, Latin America and Caribbean region VP for US technology vendor Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO), who said this week that 3G is already here thanks in part to mobile operators'' adoption of IP platforms.
"Those companies that are not selling 3G say it has not been implemented in the region, but the ITU [International Telecommunications Union] has set five standards for 3G technology, three of which are based in CDMA technologies," Rivera said.
ITU has approved a family of five standards that meet IMT-2000 services criteria, more commonly known as 3G. These standards are WCDMA, CDMA2000 and TD-SCDMA, based on CDMA technology, and UWC-136 and DECT+, based on GSM technology.
There are already 28 CDMA2000 networks in the region, within 19 countries, and WCDMA is expected to be the upgrade path as much for GSM/EDGE operators as for CDMA operators. Some operators using CDMA 3G technology are Smartcom in Chile, Telefnica Mviles in 10 countries, Alegro PCS in Ecuador, Telgua in Guatemala, Telcel in Mexico, Movilnet in Venezuela, Vivo in Brazil and Ola in Colombia.
New projects related to CDMA 3G networks include Bahamas Telecommunications Company, one in El Salvador, two in Trinidad & Tobago and another one in Venezuela. There is also an EVDO project in the Cayman Islands.
THE COMPETITOR''S SIDE
Wibe Wagemans, marketing director for Latin America at the multimedia division of Finnish cell phone manufacturer Nokia (NYSE: NOK), recently confirmed, "our competitors and Nokia itself are already selling 3G products, in Chile, for example."
However, Nokia feels that in many cases people can only use these devices when they travel, because the local infrastructure is not fully in place, and the company believes 3G technology is unlikely to take off in the region during 2006.
According to Rivera, when GSM operators talk about 3G they are talking about this technology running over GSM networks, which is, by all accounts the dominant technology in Latin America, mostly because of the prices of the terminals, which are cheaper compared to CDMA terminals.
The CDMA Development Group (CDG) has also said CDMA is the "pure" evolution to 3G, while GSM is a delay in reaching 3G.
3G BENEFITS WITH CDMA
For 3G services, CDMA2000 offers an efficient use of radio spectrum, enabling wireless networks to handle more users simultaneously and it is able to provide higher data transfer speeds and to support advanced multimedia services.
There are three large benefits involving 3G technology, according to Rivera. 3G offers a bandwidth equivalent to DSL or cable modem services, providing up to 2,400Kbps.
"Besides, there is greater capacity. [Compared to] a second generation GSM radio station, a CDMA2000 or WCDMA base station is able to provide services to four times more users, so the costs of providing a minute [of mobile telephony] are considerably reduced," Rivera said.
A third benefit is the coverage given. According to Rivera, in many cities there is no DSL or cable modem coverage or the service does not go beyond the largest cities and there are not that many hotspots. "By deploying a 3G network, you get wireless high speed broadband with mobile coverage, which is extensive and at a low [build out] cost," he added.
"In Qualcomm, we facilitate the transition to 3G by bringing new advanced products and services. We help in each level of the value chain and we work with Latin American operators to teach them what has been done in other countries, such as Japan, Korea and the US, to understand the benefits and learn from their mistakes so they are not repeated" Rivera said.
10:06AM Qualcomm moves to session highs, challenging its 2-month resistance area at 46.15/46.28 (QCOM) 46.28 +0.75: -Technical-
http://finance.yahoo.com/mp#qcom
Some T/A from Nasdaq Stock Consultant:
WATCH for possible breakout above 45.93, no resistance in area just above.
Type: True breakout from triple resistance.
Target: 48.38, 6.3% Stop: 44.82, Loss: 1.6%, Profit/Loss ratio: 3.9 : 1 - Excellent
http://quotes.nasdaq.com/quote.dll?mode=stock&page=multi&symbol=qcom&symbol=&symbol=...
Motorola sexes up the Rokr
And flirts with non-Apple software
Friday 18 November 2005
http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39154374,00.htm
Motorola expects to introduce new versions of its music player Rokr phone next year, a top executive said on Wednesday.
Ron Garriques, head of Motorola's mobile unit, said the company plans to launch a more stylish Rokr phone in the first quarter and will follow with another Rokr that can download songs wirelessly around mid-year.
Music is seen as one of the next hot features in mobile phones, although the first Rokr, which includes Apple's popular iTunes music software, was received less warmly by consumers than had been expected.
The first Rokr had limited room for songs and was not seen as being as svelte as Motorola's Razr phone, which has became a design icon.
Garriques said the company had learned some lessons from the weaker-than-expected reception for the phone, which looked nothing like an iPod or a Razr. He said the next version would not necessarily be limited to iTunes software, depending on carrier demand.
Motorola would put whatever music software, including iTunes, that operators demand on its next Rokr, he said.
Garriques told investors at the UBS Global Communications Conference: "Any time a carrier wants iTunes they can have it."
Garriques briefly showed a slide of a slicker-looking phone that more closely resembled the Razr than the first Rokr as he briefly previewed the next Rokr which will also include a megapixel camera and stereo headphones.
Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola trails only Finland's Nokia in the global market for mobile phone sales but many analysts believe the US company's Razr family puts it way ahead in terms of phone designs.
Garriques said he expects sales of the Razr to continue to be strong and to peak in 2007.
Asked about Nokia's $430m agreement to buy mobile email management company Intellisync, Garriques said he knew the company had been up for sale but was not willing to pay as much as Nokia.
He said: "We didn't believe it would have differentiated us enough to be worthy of those types of valuations."
Garriques also said Motorola does not plan to join a group of vendors, including Nokia, that recently complained about wireless technology developer Qualcomm's competitive practices to the European Commission.[/b)
Motorola's shares closed up 24 cents or more than one per cent at $22.78 on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
O/T: Dick, thanks for your kind words!
I am still in Euroland. Thanks to Q that I invested in 1997, I will be able to take my early retirement and spend a few more weeks near the french Riviera.
Unfortunately, this is not the good time for vacation here, because the temperature varies between 40F and 50F. Sometime with strong wind called <<mistal>>, the wind shield factor may be around 32F. The reason for choosing this place for my vacation is that i have many relatives living here.
Since I got up early these days, I would like to share with everybody here any good news on QUALCOMM that I can find on the internet. Forgive me for this O/T post.