Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

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South Korea solves license problem

South Korea solves license problem
Qualcomm says that it supports an understanding reached between the governments of the USA and South Korea over CDMA licensing. The South Korean government had planned to impose a generic wireless internet platform on all networks in the country, a move which could have blocked Qualcomm's BREW platform from being deployed. The USTR lodged trade issues on the Korean government’s actions saying that “The compulsory application of WIPI is a trade barrier against Qualcomm’s BREW.” Under the terms of the agreement, South Korean networks will still be required to support the local WIPI standard, but will also be allowed to support BREW as well.

"Qualcomm is very pleased that the United States and South Korean governments have reached this understanding. We believe freedom for each operator to select a preferred wireless Internet platform to meet its customers' needs will maintain a high-level of competition and creativity in the South Korean wireless market," said Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. "Indeed, this is welcome news for all parties in the mobile applications marketplace. Subscribers of BREW-enabled services, for example, can continue to access and enjoy BREW-based applications. Korean developers can continue to benefit by delivering their locally developed BREW-based applications to the worldwide marketplace.

"I commend the U.S. and South Korean governments for their cooperative efforts to ensure that technical standards do not hamper the availability of new technologies and services. Special recognition is due to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, his staff at USTR, and the Administration's interagency team for their leadership on this landmark understanding. We also appreciate Minister Chin Dae-je's expertise in the wireless sector and management of this issue."

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/11052.shtml