Qualcomm halts UMB project, sees no major job cuts

By Sinead Carew (Reuters)

Qualcomm Inc, seeking to cut costs in the face of slowing demand for cell phones, has stopped developing a next-generation wireless technology called Ultra Mobile Broadband and is making small-scale layoffs.

The wireless chip maker will instead put its resources into a rival high-speed technology called Long Term Evolution, which some of its major customers, such as Verizon Wireless, have backed, said Qualcomm Chief Executive Paul Jacobs.
[Read more]

Nokia and Qualcomm agree to settle all litigation and form new agreement

Nokia and Qualcomm today announced that they have entered into a new agreement covering various standards including GSM, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, OFDM, WiMAX, LTE and other technologies. The agreement will result in settlement of all litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia of its complaint to the European Commission.

Under the terms of the new 15-year agreement, Nokia has been granted a license under all Qualcomm’s patents for use in Nokia mobile devices and Nokia Siemens Networks infrastructure equipment. Further, Nokia has agreed not to use any of its patents directly against Qualcomm, enabling Qualcomm to integrate Nokia’s technology into Qualcomm’s chipsets. The financial structure of the settlement includes an up-front payment and on-going royalties payable to Qualcomm. Nokia has agreed to assign ownership of a number of patents to Qualcomm, including patents declared as essential to WCDMA, GSM and OFDMA. The specific terms are confidential.
[Read more]

China’s Mobile TV Compound Growth Forecasted to Reach 225.5% During 2008-2012

CCID Consulting recently released its article on compound growth rate of the output in China’s broadcasting mobile TV will reach 225.5% during the period of 2008-2012.

With the drive of export and domestic demands, China’s mobile phone output continues to grow in 2007, reaches 554 million sets, with a growth rate of 25.4%. The volume of export is 322 million sets, which accounts for 58.2%. Currently, China’s global mobile phone manufacturing base is quite steady. Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson have transferred their capacities to China; because of this factor, the export volume of China’s mobile phone increases 26.2%. Meanwhile, China’s domestic mobile phone enterprises’ capacity increases are evident, especially ZTE, Huawei and K-Touch.
[Read more]

Qualcomm’s Wireless Reach Initiative Brings Advanced 3G Technology to Vietnam Communities

Qualcomm Incorporated announced it is working to improve access to education tools and resources through the provision of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO wireless broadband services at the Community Technology and Learning Center (CTLC) in Dong Anh, Vietnam. The CTLC is part of the Training Online Programs and Incubation for Communities (TOPIC64) initiative, supported by USAID’s public/private partnership agreement with Qualcomm through its Wireless Reach initiative and other TOPIC64 partners.

Wireless Reach, along with United States Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Michael Michalak, and TOPIC64 partners from Electricity Vietnam Telecom (EVNTelecom), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and the Center for Research and Consulting on Management (CRC), are working together to empower underserved communities in each of Vietnam’s 64 provinces by establishing CTLCs with computers, software and Internet connectivity via 3G CDMA wireless technology. Each organization contributed to the project by providing software, equipment, technical support, management fees for implementing and administrating the project and wireless equipment.
[Read more]

International Trade Commission Issues Initial Determination in Favor of Nokia; No Qualcomm Patent Infringement Found

Nokia announced on 12 December that a United States International Trade Commission (ITC) judge issued an Initial Determination in favor of Nokia in the action brought by Qualcomm against Nokia alleging patent infringement. The judge found no infringement or violation by Nokia of the three asserted Qualcomm patents. In addition, it was determined that patent ‘473 was found to be invalid.

“We are pleased with Judge Luckern’s decision and believe it is consistent with and supported by the facts,” said Rick Simonson, Chief Financial Officer, Nokia. “This decision confirms our belief that Qualcomm does not have relevant GSM patents. This is another failed attempt by Qualcomm to mislead both Nokia and the telecommunications industry.”
[Read more]

Qualcomm Announces MobileView Software for Remote Collection of Mobile and Network Performance Data

Qualcomm Incorporated announced the commercial availability of the MobileView product. MobileView is a software application that remotely captures diagnostic data with GPS from mobile handsets, providing insight into handset and network performance. MobileView is currently in trials with CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) network operators worldwide, including T-Mobile Germany.

“The need to ensure that our networks have the best quality is very important to T-Mobile,” said Peter Smolka, head of measurement systems radio coverage, T-Mobile Germany. “Remote diagnostics is a positive evolution for network optimization.”

[Read more]

Qualcomm Announces CDMA2000 and WCDMA UMTS Transceiver for 700 MHz in US

Qualcomm Incorporated a leading developer and innovator of advanced technologies and data solutions, today announced that the Company has added support for CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) wireless services in the 700 MHz band to its product roadmap. Qualcomm’s RTR6570 transceiver delivers support for the 700 MHz band to CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) devices. The transceiver also supports all other frequency bands in the United States, including 850 MHz, 1700/2100 MHz, and 1900 MHz for CDMA2000. The RTR6570 is a CMOS transceiver that is scheduled to sample mid-2008, enabling commercial devices to be ready for the first 700 MHz service launches expected as early as the beginning of 2009.

“Qualcomm is pleased to offer the first CMOS transceiver solution offering support for 700 MHz, meeting the needs of any of our customers who will be designing either CDMA2000 or WCDMA (UMTS) devices in that spectrum,” said Steve Brown, senior director of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “The RTR6570 will help to ensure the availability of devices when the first services in 700 MHz launch, helping accelerate the commercialization of new application possibilities for wireless users.”

[Read more]