COM DEV and QUALCOMM Enter into Agreements
- COM DEV to License QUALCOMM's HDR Technology for use in COM DEV's
High-Speed Broadband Wireless Internet System Development -
SAN DIEGO, CA, and CAMBRIDGE, ON, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - QUALCOMM Incorporated
(Nasdaq: QCOM) and COM DEV International Ltd. (TSE: CDV) today announced that
they have entered into a series of license and technology transfer agreements
covering QUALCOMM's High Data Rate (HDR) technology that will advance and
support the development of COM DEV's new, mobile high-speed wireless Internet
system. These multi-million dollar agreements include an HDR technical design
transfer agreement and royalty-bearing licenses for HDR infrastructure
equipment and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modem cards. As part of the
agreement, QUALCOMM will make an equity investment in COM DEV. COM DEV designs
and manufactures leading-edge wireless systems and subsystems for major global
wireless, cellular telephone and PCS system vendors worldwide and is the
largest Canadian-owned designer and manufacturer of space hardware subsystems.
Under the terms of the agreements, QUALCOMM will provide for the transfer
of certain HDR infrastructure designs and COM DEV will have the rights to
utilize HDR technology in base stations and mobile modem cards of its soon to
be launched high-speed wireless Internet system.
"COM DEV's expertise in manufacturing wireless infrastructure equipment
makes this relationship an ideal step toward the deployment of HDR and
supports QUALCOMM's vision of providing CDMA-enabled devices with innumerable
applications to consumers and businesses worldwide," said Marvin Blecker,
senior vice president of technology transfer for QUALCOMM. "QUALCOMM welcomes
and supports COM DEV's entrepreneurial application of QUALCOMM's HDR
technology in its new high-speed wireless Internet product. Our discussions
led to a decision to make an equity investment in the company to encourage and
foster the expansion of innovative CDMA and HDR applications. We look forward
to working with COM DEV."
"COM DEV is pleased to establish this strategic relationship with
QUALCOMM," said Keith Ainsworth, president and CEO of COM DEV International.
"QUALCOMM's HDR technology will make COM DEV's high-speed wireless Internet
system a viable wireless alternative to DSL and Cable Modem services. COM DEV
recognizes the growing demand for wireless Internet services and we are
delighted to work with QUALCOMM to fulfill that demand through CDMA."
COM DEV International Ltd. (www.comdev.cc) is a leading producer of
wireless infrastructure and the largest Canadian-owned designer and
manufacturer of space hardware subsystems. It operates through two divisions:
COM DEV Wireless and COM DEV Space that together employ more than 1,200 people
at facilities in Ontario and New Brunswick, Canada; the United States; the
United Kingdom; and China. COM DEV Wireless designs and manufactures leading-
edge wireless systems and subsystems that enjoy broad acceptance among global
wireless, cellular telephone and PCS system vendors. System products include
Soft Radios and broadband wireless Internet products. Subsystem products
comprise signal conditioning equipment that play a critical role in the
performance of every cellular base station in which they are installed.
Typically, these products are provided as cost-effective assemblages that
integrate signal filtering, signal amplification and alarm monitoring in a
single compact electronics package.
COM DEV Space manufactures advanced products and subsystems that are sold
to the major satellite prime contractors for use in commercial communications
and earth science satellites.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and
delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services
based on the Company's CDMA digital technology. The Company's business areas
include integrated CDMA chipsets and system software; technology licensing;
Eudora(R) email software for Windows(R) and Macintosh(R) computing platforms;
satellite-based systems including portions of the Globalstar(TM) system and
wireless fleet management systems, OmniTRACS(R) and OmniExpress(TM). QUALCOMM
owns patents which are essential to all of the CDMA wireless
telecommunications standards that have been adopted or proposed for adoption
by standards-setting bodies worldwide. QUALCOMM has licensed its essential
CDMA patent portfolio to more than 80 telecommunications equipment
manufacturers worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is
included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2000 FORTUNE 500(R) company traded on
The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) 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 26, 1999, and most recent
Form 10-Q.
COM DEV, COM DEV Wireless and COM DEV Space are registered trademarks of
COM DEV International Ltd. QUALCOMM, OmniTRACS and Eudora are registered
trademarks and OmniExpress is a trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated.
Globalstar is a trademark of Loral QUALCOMM Satellite Services,
Incorporated. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
