IP: Edging Qualcomm Out of CDMA Equation? By Kristy Bassuener

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
>
>
> Edging Qualcomm Out of CDMA Equation?  By Kristy Bassuener
> September 24, 2001
> <http://article.WirelessWeek.com/UM/T.ASP?A3.3.311.4.460395446>
>
> Software defined radio player Advanced Communications Technologies Inc. 
> today said it has completed a mobile-phone call on an SDR platform using 
> the CDMA protocol without the use of any CDMA-specific hardware or 
> Qualcomm chipsets. The firm said its accomplishment can offer carriers 
> 'significant savings' from Qualcomm licensing fees, according to a statement.
>
> 'Qualcomm has been reputed to have a stranglehold on CDMA as far as 
> network providers are concerned,' said Roger May, chairman of ACT-USA. 
> 'Until now, there was no other way to provide a CDMA-based service and 
> network operators were bound to pay substantial license fees to Qualcomm 
> for the use of their CDMA chipsets... ACT's SpectruCell SDR base station 
> technology is able to complete these same processes in software which 
> effectively bypasses the majority of Qualcomm's patents on CDMA.'
>
> Neither May nor other ACT representatives could be reached to further 
> discuss the announcement, which may draw ire from Qualcomm. The San 
> Diego-based firm sold its handset division to Kyocera and almost spun off 
> its semiconductor unit to focus exclusively the revenue potential of its 
> numerous patents on CDMA technology. The ability to bypass Qualcomm's 
> licensing fees could possibly affect the company's future 
> revenue-generating capabilities.
>
> 'Our patent portfolio includes all essential patents needed to deploy 
> CDMA,' said Qualcomm spokeswoman Patty Goodwin. '[ACT] claims don't merit 
> comment beyond that.'
>
> Industry analyst Jeff Kagan points out that we may see more of this kind 
> of announcement in the future. 'While the drooping stock market has stolen 
> the headlines for the last year or so, that hasn't stopped America's R&D 
> engine,' Kagan said. 'In general, I expect to see a big wave of invention 
> and innovation in coming months. Market leaders like Qualcomm are always a 
> big target for competitive technologies.'
>
> Investors, so far, haven't showed concern over Qualcomm shares. The 
> company today announced a CDMA licensing agreement with Mobens Company, 
> and shares at midday were up more than 6 percent to $47.64.



For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/