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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: foundation who wrote (31664)	1/24/2003 9:33:01 AM
From: foundation	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 197054

Qualcomm confident in new technology SAN DIEGO - U.S.-based wireless technology developer Qualcomm will still be able to remain competitive in terms of offering third-generation (3G) services, even if South Korea pushes for a dual wireless standard by implementing a competing 3G service later this year, its top executive said yesterday. Korea's two mobile carriers - SK Telecom and KTF - are set to launch W-CDMA 3G service in the second half of this year, a move that might conflict with their own cdma2000 EV-DO 3G services. EV-DO, or evolution data optimized, is designed to allow CDMA mobile phone users to download data at a maximum speed of 2.4Mbps. Both SK Telecom and KTF are now actively promoting their EV-DO services, stressing multimedia content and applications over the mobile network. "Compared with the initial W-CDMA services, EV-DO service will offer more capabilities," said Dr. Irwin Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, in a press conference. Jacobs said that he understands why the Korean government encourages mobile carriers to embrace both cdma2000 1x and W- CDMA standards, even though the two technologies are competing with each other. "Korean handset makers have been exporting CDMA handsets and the Korean government wants them to know about W-CDMA and promote the export of W-CDMA handsets, as well," said Jacobs. Korea has more than 32 million mobile phone subscribers, a key market for Qualcomm which spearheads the spread of cdma2000 1x technology. The country is also leading the multimedia-oriented EV-DO service while the rest of the CDMA camp is intent on rolling out cdma2000 1x network yet. Jacobs also said Qualcomm is now working on MSM 6250 chip that can be used in W-CDMA handsets. He said the company has yet to map out development plans for the MSM 6600 chip, an upgrade version. Korea's mobile industry is interested in the development and quality of W-CDMA chip by Qualcomm as SK Telecom and KTF are keen to kickstart the new type of 3G services. Jacobs' comment on W-CDMA's outlook, meanwhile, reflects Qualcomm's confidence in the forthcoming dual standard market structure in Korea. Some observers in Seoul earlier expressed concerns that SK Telecom and KTF might use EV-DO as a "transition service" before promoting W-CDMA as a full-fledged multimedia mobile service, particularly in connection with videophone technology. Color-screened mobile handsets featuring digital cameras have sold briskly in Korea, with tech-savvy youth showing keen interest in exchanging pictures, messages and video clips over the CDMA network. Qualcomm said yesterday that there are more than 142 million CDMA subscribers worldwide in 52 countries including Korea, and 35 operators in 17 countries have already launched CDMA-based 3G services. The company also announced that it posted $241 million in net profit on revenue of $1.1 billion in its most recent quarter that ended Dec. 29 last year. Its net profit was up 76 percent from the year- earlier period. (insight@koreaherald.co.kr) By Yang Sung-jin Korea Herald correspondent 2003.01.25 koreaherald.co.kr