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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnG who wrote (32969)	6/23/1999 7:11:00 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Respond to of 152472

One reason that Globalstar handsets need to be large is that the antenna has to eventually be maneuvered to a position where there is a clear "line of sight" between the tip of the antenna and the satellite(s) hundreds of miles "up there." (You don't want your (fat) head in the way). When I saw a prototype design for a Globalstar handset at the February 1999 Qualcomm annual meeting, the antenna was sort of "sneakily" tucked in on the side (when not extended). But, when you raise it up, it is big. I don't think there is any way around this. Jon.

To: JohnG who wrote (32969)	6/23/1999 7:32:00 PM
From: Drew Williams	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 152472

There are lots of reasons why satellite handsets are larger than cellular. The most important reason is that it takes more power to transmit a usable signal to a satellite than it does to a cellular tower. I don't remember what the real numbers are, and I believe the satellite can make do with a weaker signal. But the important piece of math here is the law of inverse squares, which says that if you double the distance, you cut your signal strength by a factor of four. If you triple the distance, the signal is diminished by a factor of nine. And so on. More power = bigger battery = bigger everything. I have no doubt, though, that some smart Qualcomm engineers (quite a few of them, actually) are working hard to bring us new models that will compete size-and-weight-wise to any cellular phone out there. Patience is called for, John.