Shane, off topic unless folks are interested in CDMA/TDMA religous debate.
The European standards debate is pure smoke and mirrors at this point. It's just Ericy and Nokia saying they could invent 3rd generation W-CDMA and not have to pay royalties to QCOM. Point one is that this CDMA stuff is tricky, very tricky. (MOT has fallen flat on its fanny trying to build CDMA ASICs and has delayed CDMA MOT handset introduction for over a year.) Ericy and Nokia could invent 3rd gen W-CDMA just like you and I could invent the next photomask--possible yes, likely no. Ericy and Nokia ain't got nothing, vaporware, zero, nada. It's a bluff to get QCOM to license their IPRs at a reduced rate. If they did do the engineering, we're looking at years AND it would not be backwards compatible with IS95 (QCOM's standard)--cause if it was backwards compatible then they would owe the Q dough. Europe and Japan don't have years to wait--their spectrum is crowded now. The Q will release their next gen version end of next year (will accommodate video, data, and stuff mucho better). So if I'm a telco, I can believe Ericy will produce its vaporware in a timely fashion, wait for them to do so, and then walk away from any investment I've made in CDMA. OR, I can believe QCOM and preserve my investment. You make the call.
By the way, QCOM has just successfully concluded a GSM/CDMA overlay with Vodaphone so European operators can get some immediate relief and start their transition in to a pure CDMA environment. The Vodaphone trial results were announced last month.
I am virtually certain LSI makes ASICs under license for QCOM. I just want to see some announcements from the company that they know which way the wind is blowing and not put all their eggs in the GSM basket. Mike Doyle |
